THE  UNIVERSITY  OF 

NORTH  CAROLINA 

LIBRARY 


THE  WILMER  COLLECTION 

OF  CIVIL  WAR  NOVELS 

PRESENTED  BY 

RICHARD  H.  WILMER,  JR. 


^iLMi^  eULLEC  HON 


Digitized  by  tine  Internet  Arciiive 

in  2010  witii  funding  from 

University  of  Nortii  Carolina  at  Chapel  Hill 


http://www.archive.org/details/patriotsstrategyOOharg 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY, 


BY 


THOMAS  F.  HARGIS. 


LOUISVILLE,  KY.: 

CHAS.  T.  BEARING. 
1895. 


Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1895,  by 

THOMAS  F   HARGIS, 
In  the  Office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress,  at  Washington. 


DEDICATION. 


To  those  who  favor  a  more  perfect  Union,  the 
establishment  of  justice,  the  inculcation  of  pure  pa- 
triotism in  every  American  heart,  this  book  is  dedi- 
cated. 


602939 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 


CHAPTER  I. 

THE  village  of  Roan  is  located  in  a  valley  of  natu- 
ral beauty  and  is  the  county  site  of  Branch 
County,  Kentucky.  There  the  bluegrass  grows  in 
odd  places,  but  westward,  becoming  thicker,  the 
fields,  matted  with  it,  are  one  unbroken  blue.  Wav- 
ing wheat  and  tall  hemp  are  interspersed  with  blue 
pastures,  kindled  by  the  sun  and  dotted  over  with 
shades  of  sugar  trees,  black  walnut,  cherry,  the  ash 
and  the  oak.  Under  these,  in  the  sunny  seasons, 
blooded  cattle  and  southdowns  ruminate,  or  thor- 
oughbred dams  and  colts  seek  shelter  from  noonday 
heat.  These  fields  and  pastures  roll  in  every  direc- 
tion over  low,  undulating  hills,  which  are  broken  by 
cool  brakes  and  rest  upon  ledges  of  limestone.  Here 
the  rich  red  cheeks  and  very  white  foreheads  of 
finely-formed  men;  women  with  chestnut  brown  hair, 
deep  chested  and  perfectly  modeled,  strong  and 
graceful,  are  to  be  found  in  exceptional  uniformity, 
without  a  like  elsewhere,  in  Europe  or  America.  The 
valleys  of  Branch  County  lie  level  with  the  surface  of 
her  sister  counties  to  the  westward,  but  her  moun- 


6     '  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

tains  tower  in  blue  lines  above  and,  far  away  to  the 
eastward  of  the  Bluegrass  region.  "  The  waters,  fed 
by  cascade  and  mountain  torrent,  flow  gently  at  Roan 
and  the  fells  that  environ  this  little  village  are  the 
foot  hills  of  the  cloud-capped  Cumberlands.  Lock 
Ege's  rock,  around  which  eagles  wheel,  forces  its 
bald  head  toward  the  s^y  as  a  storm  signal  to  the 
Southwest, 

On  a  sultry  July  evening  in  1861,  the  muttering 
thunder  boded  a  storni.  Lock  Ege's  rock  was  in 
mist.  Black  clouds  suddenly  appeared  in  the  open 
sky  above  the  western  horizon  and  hung  heavily  over 
the  village!  Soon  the  rain  in  misty  waves  was  fall- 
ing, like  gray  curtains,  before  the  mountain  tops, 
which  seemed  to  rise  behind  them  and  thence  into 
the  hooded  clouds  about  Lock  Ege's  bald  head. 

Oliver  Hazzard  Perry  Patter,  by  Kentucky  custom 
and  courtesy  a  "Colonel,"  who,  with  a  Colonel's  air 
and  pride  and  a  Colonel's  voice,  had  publicly  read 
the  Great  Declaration  on  the  last  glorious  Fourth 
and  delivered  what  was  afterward  called,  by  way  of 
eminence,  the  "Eagle  Oration,"  dashed,  at  break- 
neck speed,  under  the  roaring  storm,  info  Roan.  He 
was  mounted  on  his  piebald  stallion,  Long-Leaper, 
named  in  honor  of  Michigan's  future  Chief  Justice 
and  the  chief  est  pensioner  among  ten  thousand  of  the 
War  of  Politics. 

At  each  bound  of  the  noble  brute,  the  "Colonel' 
shouted,  louder  than  the  increasing  thunder  peals, 
"Bull    Run!     Bull    Run!     Hurrah    for    Beauregard  I, 
Hurrah  for  Jeff  Davis!!"     At  every  leap,  his  ulula 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  '7 

tions  grew  fiercer  and  his  big,  black,  felt  hat  swung 
wildly  around  his  revolutionary  head,  on  which  the 
heavy  rain  drops  were  falling.  ' 

He  flung  himself  from  Long-Leaper's  back,  threw 
the  reins  over  the  hitching-post  and  sought  the  bar- 
room. There  he  burst  upon  three  patriots,  who 
were  winding  up  an  excited  talk  about  secession,  and 
deprecatingly  shouted,  "Gentlemen!  My  country- 
men! Why  are  you  idle  here?  Is  life  so  dear  or 
peace  so  sweet  as  to  be  purchased  at  the  price  of 
chains  and  slavery?  Your  country  is  in  a  blaze  of 
war!  The  Patriot  Army  is  marching  upon  the  Capi- 
tol! Hark!  The  thunder  rolls,  the  lightning  flashes! 
Bull  Run  is  bloody  with  the  slain!  The  battlefield  is 
yet  dark  from  the  cannon's  smoke — yes,  darker  than 
the  black  clouds  above  us!  Its  gloom  was  rent  with 
flashes  from  the  red  artillery,  brighter  and.  deadlier 
than  the  lurid  lightning  which  now  makes  our  nerves 
to  quiver  and  us  to  dodge  from  each  new  born  bolt! 
Awake  !  Arise  !  or  be  forever  fallen!! "  He  imitated 
the  voice  of  the  actor  in  this  patriotic  and  Satanic 
appeal  to  arms. 

The  horripilation  of  Tom  McShite's  hair  increased 
the  alarm  of  his  companions,  but,  when  he  arose  to 
his  feet,  and  in  quavering  tones  shouted,  "Hurray 
fur  Jeff!"  Eph  Soaks  cried,  "O  do,  for  my  sakp, 
stop!"  Pate  Wolf,  though  mentally  dishonest  and 
morally  opaque,  understanding  the  little  motives  of 
life  and  .the  little  possessors  of  big  motives  quite  as 
well  as  a  pensioner  understands,  in  the  light  of  the 
Act  of  '90,  the  moral  cowardice  of  a  nation's  dema- 


8  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

gogues;  and,  being  endowed  with  credulous  cunning 
and  some  capacity,  though  antecedent  generations  of 
ineffectual  education  had  beclouded  his  mental  forces 
and  confused  his  mother  tongue,  saw  at  once  that 
Tom  McShite  and  Eph  Soaks  were  about  to  be 
alarmed  out  of  their  loyalty  and  said,  much  after  the 
spirit  of  the  Missouri  Compromise,  "I'm  fur  this 
hyur  New-Tralty,  at  the  present,  but  I  haint  nothin' 
now  ag'in  Jeff  Davis,  nur  I  never  had  much,  ez  bein' 
he  wur  a  Mexiken  soldier  en  ole  Ruff  en  Ready's  son- 
in-law.  "  Giving  Tom  McShite  a  knowing  wink,  he 
added,  "En  Jeff  mout  take  Roan  ef  people  went  to 
flouncin'  thur  tongues  tu  much. " 

"Did  not  I,"  said  "Colonel"  Patter,  moved  by  the 
predictive,  orthodoxical  spirit,  "say  in  my  last  ora- 
tion, called  by  some  'The  Eagle  Oration,'  that  calam- 
ity would  befall  this  Nation  falsely  so  called,  that 
the  words  of  the  great  Declaration  'all  men  are  cre- 
ated equal'  did  not  include  negroes,  because  of  their 
woolly  heads,  thick  lips  and  pungent  graveolence; 
but  that  the  charges  against  George  the  Third,  clos- 
ing with  the  ever  memorable  words,  'he  has  excited 
domestic  insurrection  amongst  us,'  pointed  to  the 
abolitionists,  who  are  criminally  assaulting  an  insti- 
tution, bottomed  on  the  sacred  examples  of  the  Bible 
and  vouchsafed  by  our  glorious  Constitution?" 

The  patriots  gave  "Colonel"  Patter  a  congratula- 
tory shake  of  the  hand  and  joined  him  in  a  drink  at 
the  bar- counter,  on  which  he  laid  off  the  battlefield 
of  Bull  Run. 

He   explained  the  relative  positions   of   the   two 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  9 

armies  and  particularly  located  Jackson,  where  he 
received  the  immortal  sobriquet,  "Stone-Wall,"  from 
the  tongue  of  Bee,  whose  drooping  hopes  revived  as 
the  deathless  compound  of  fame  fell  from  his  lips. 

"Off  here  in  the  valley,"  said  "Colonel"  Patter, 
pointing  to  the  locality  in  his  improvised  war-map, 
"is  where  Joe  Johnson  gave  Patterson  the  slip,  and, 
like  Blucher,  arrived  on  "the  field  just  in  the  nicko' 
time  to  save  the  day  and  rout  the  cowardly  abolition- 
ists." 

Fate  Wolf,  becoming  deeply  impressed,  remarked, 
"I've  bean  turrible  strong,  all  along,  fur  this  hyur 
New-Tralty  that  Garret  Davis  en  Crittenden  got  up, 
en  Lincoln  said  they  mout  try  tel  they  wore  it  out, 
yit  I've  bean  a  lee  tie  shaky  on  it  more  nur  wunce,  en 
right  hyur  I  turns  a  new  leaf,  en  ef  I  don't  change, 
nur  haint  turned  back  by  nuthin',  I  expects  to  jine 
Jeff  Davis  ef  he  takes  en  kin  hold  on  to  Kaintucky." 

Tom  McShite's  hair  was  settling  down  while  this 
adroit  explanation  was  developing,  and,  his  return- 
ing self  breaking  out,  in  approval,  he  shouted, 
"Them's  my  sentiments,"  and  "Colonel"  Patter  re- 
peated himself,  touching  the  drinks. 

Eph  Soaks,  who  drank  and  listened  in  silence,  had 
been  booming  around  the  little  town  all  day,  singing 
Union  Dixey,  a  Northern  song  with  a  Southern  tune, 
and,  therefore,  felt  stronger  in  the  Union  faith  than 
his  compatriots,  who  were  somewhat  stampeded  by 
"Colonel"  Patter's  martial  manner  of  imparting  the 
news  of  the  disastrous  battle.  The  latter  had  i3ro- 
cured  a  Cincinnati  Enquirer  containing  a  description 


10  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

of  the  fight  from  the  captain  of  a  steamboat  that  de- 
scended the  Ohio  the  day  before  and  brought  the  pa- 
per thence,  in  hot  haste,  to  Roan. 

Then  and  there  "Colonel"  Patter  proposed  to  raise 
a  rebel  regiment,  but  Tom  McShite  said,  '  'I  can't  see 
good  at  night.  I'd  like  mighty  well  to  wait  fur  day- 
light, then  I  could  see  better  about  jinin'  your  com- 
pany." 

"Company,"  interrupted  "Colonel"  Patter,  "I'll 
raise  a  regiment  or  nothing." 

As  Tom  McShite  refused  to  join  until  daylight,  the 
other  two  refrained  also,  Fate  Wolf  saying,  "I  can't 
see  powerful  good  at  night  nuther." 

Verbal  hostilities  went  on,  however,  with  the  flight 
of  night,  the  Abolition  army  being  the  object  of  vio- 
lent bombardment  for  its  cowardice  in  flying  from  a 
handful  of  rebels,  for  its  free  negro  proclivities  and 
weak  Generals. 

At  last  these  agitated  men  broke  up  their  rouse  and 
"Colonel"  Patter  sought  the  summer  night's  air  to 
fan  his  fevered  cheek  while  he  rode  homeward  to  put 
to  sleep  his  ambitious  dream. 

"The  third  trial  is  the  charm,"  said  he,  but  this 
time  the  restless  horse  stooped  with  a  low  whinny 
and  "Colonel"  Patter  triumphantly  mounted  and  rap- 
idly rode  off  into  the  gloom  of  night. 

Eph  Soaks,  in  the  local  idiom,  "laid  out,"  as  the 
beasts  of  the  field  do,  because  he  despised  a  closed 
room,  in  summer,  and,  also,  wanted  elbow  room,  if 
the  enemy  should  come.  Fate  Wolf  and  Tom  Mc- 
Shite considered  closed  doors  the  safest  and  took  the 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  11 

same  bed,  which  was  located  over  the  bar-room.  It 
was  of  peculiar  construction.  Resilient  slats  were 
nailed  to  the  posts,  on  each  side,  one  foot  above 
the  surface  of  the  couch.  Any  man,  "sometimes 
drunk  and  seldom  sober,"  who  got  into  this  paradox- 
ical bed,  though  his  mind  was  made  up  to  leave  it 
early,  found  his  body  in  the  morning  determined  to 
keep  it  late. 

This  antithesis  is  after  the  style  of  Lacon. 

Hardly  time  to  breathe  thrice  had  passed  when 
Wolf  and  McShite  fell  into  a  quarrel  over  inter- 
personal accusations  of  disloyalty  based  on  state- 
ments made  by  the  Cincinnati  Enquirer,  whose  editor 
was  always  telling  the  truth  to  help  the  rebels,  or 
writing  lies  to  keep  out  of  prison.  Twice  a  fight 
nearly  ensued  between  them,  but,  as  neither  could 
get  out  of  bed,  they  agreed  to  disagree  for  the  night, 
and  concluded  to  stand  solidly  by  the  Union  in  the 
morning  if  the  rebels  had  lost  the  battle.  A  deep 
sleep  soon  fell  upon  them  and  hushed  the  clamors  of 
self-preservation,  which  seemed  at  war  with  the  de- 
mands of  patriotism. 

Early  next  morning  Penn  Grabb^,  who  had  pro- 
cured a  secret  contract  with  the  Government  to  re- 
cruit, by  persuasion,  in  Kentucky,  appeared  in  Roan 
and  immediately  denied  that  the  rebels  had  gained 
the  battle  of  Bull  Run.  "Colonel"  Patter  soon  showed 
his  colors  again,  and,  having  hitched  Long-Leaper, 
denounced  Penn  Grabbe  as  an  Abolition  spy,  and  at 
once  threw  open  the  bar-room  to  free  drinks  and  for 
raw  recruits.     All  day  long,  amidst  the  coming  and 


12  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

going  of  the  excited  community,  Penn  Grabb4  and 
"Colonel"  Patter  contended  for  the  three  patriots, 
but,  as  night  hovered  over  the  beautiful  valley  in 
which  Roan  reposed,  Penn  Grabb^  drove  off  with 
Tom  McShite  lying  in  the  bottom  of  the  wagon,  too 
weary  to  sit  up  and  possessed  of  that  devil — a  divided 
opinion — alternately,  but  indistinctly,  shouting, 
"Hurray  fur  Jeff!"  "Up  my  Uncle  Sam!"  leaving 
"Colonel"  Patter  worrying  with  cunning  Fate  Wolf 
to  convince  him  that  a  man  ought  not  to  want  to  live 
always. 

"Colonel"  Patter  bought  a  Cincinnati  Gazette  at  the 
same  time  he  purchased  the  Enquirer  from  the  steam- 
boat captain,  but  carefully  concealed  that  fact  until 
Penn  Grabbe  had  gone. 

Now  that  the  danger  of  production  of  a  counter- 
Gazette  had  disappeared  and  Pate  Wolf  still  hung 
fire,  "Colonel"  Patter's  creative  mind  saw  the  oppor- 
tunity to  use  the  enemy's  own  sword  against  him  and 
with  it  cut  the  Gordian  knot.  He  hatched  up  a  pre- 
tense and  retired  to  a  room  in  the  log  tavern  to  rest, 
but  there  his  vigilance,  like  that  in  the  motto  about 
the  price  of  liberty,  preserved  its  eternal  nature,  and, 
in  less  time  than  it  can  be  told,  he  cut  from  the  Ga- 
zette its  big  name  and  pasted  it  over  that  of  the  En- 
quirer, at  the  top  of  the  latter's  first  page,  and  re- 
turned to  dispel  Fate  Wolf's  illusions.  He  took  him 
aside  and  confidentially  showed  him  what  the  Gazette 
said  about  the  battle.  Fate  Wolf  was  astonished! 
He  read  it  over  and  over,  and  finally,  fixing  his'  eye 
on  space,  his  left  hand  holding  his  right  cheek  and 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  13 

the  counterfeit  Gazette  hanging  loosely  at  his  right 
side,  slowly  said,  "Ez  the  great  Gazzytee  hez  turned 
rebel,  I  moutezwell  foUer  trumps;"  but  added,  "how- 
sumever,  I  hev  my  doubts  whethersumever  enny  man 
hez  a  right  to  kill  another  fur  a  few  niggers  what  be- 
longs to  somebody  else." 

"Colonel"  Patter  swept  this  last  position  with  such 
a  fiery  charge  of  eloquence  that  further  resistance  or 
parley  was  useless,  and  Fate  Wolf,  in  high  disgust, 
agreed  to  join  the  rebel  army  for  sixty  days  with 
the  condition  that  he  would  serve  thirty  more  if 
necessary  to  put  down  the  Abolitionists. 

Eph  Soaks,  having  during  the  day  loaded  too  heavy 
for  effective  action,  sought  the  shades  of  the  water- 
birches  that  skirted  the  banks  of  Whirlinglog  Creek, 
which  brawled  by  the  little  town,  and  there,  secure 
from  war's  alarms,  slept  away  most  of  the  previous 
night's  excitement  and  some  of  the  day's  deep  pota- 
tions. The  slanting  rays  of  the  sun  as  it  sank  low 
in  the  west  found  the  exposed  face  of  Eph  Soaks 
and  burnt  him  into  life  once  more.  He  turned  over 
and  his  foot  struck  a  crooked  dead  limb,  which 
flipped  upon  his  leg.  He  thought  it  was  a  snake! 
Scrambling  in  terror  to  his  feet  he  stumbled  from 
bush  to  bush,  finally  gaining  an  upright  position. 
Rubbing  his  eyes  to  acquire  a  better  opening,  he 
saw  the  red  sun  dropping  out  of  sight  behind  big, 
luminous  clouds  which  were  slowly  rising  above  the 
western  hill-tops,  whose  crested  trees  seemed  to 
move  and  form  lines  like  tall  grenadiers.  A  moment's 


14  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

gaze  was  enough;  he  snatched  his  hat  and  made  a 
wabbling  tear  through  the  bushes  shouting,  "Yon- 
der comes  that  d Bull  Run  crowd!"  and  disap- 
peared in  the  wooded  sides  of  the  mountain. 


n. 

FOLLOWING  the  events  of  the  last  chapter,  Fate 
Wolf  and  '  'Colonel"  Patter  were  constantly  seen 
together.  During  the  remainder  of  the  summer  their 
conferences  were  long  and  secret.  They  spoke  of 
public  affairs  in  low  tones.  The  people  were  also 
filled  with  vague  apprehension.  The  battle  of  Bull 
Run  and  its  results  startled  Kentucky  and  for  two 
months  hushed  the  wrangles  of  the  tavern,  the  street 
and  the  stump.  Public  meetings  and  political  barbe- 
cues were  quietly  conducted  and  were  marked  by 
conservative  expression.  The  social  fabric  stood  un- 
broken, but  the  people  expected  it  to  fall.  They  dis- 
cussed the  progress  of  the  war  with  less  bitterness 
than  public  speakers  had  debated  issues  of  the  presi- 
dential campaign,  and  with  concealed  fears  watched 
the  drill  of  the  Home  Guards,  but  openly  admired 
the  gallant  horsemen  of  the  State  Guard,  in  whose 
ranks  rode  men  who  favored  the  South.  Cautious 
expressions  of  passion  and  lull  in  public  excitement 
were  but  the  suspicious  calm  that  presaged  the  gath- 
ering storm  which  was  soon  to  sprinkle  the  blood  of 
her  sons  upon  the  lintels  of  Kentucky's  homes. 

Late  in  September  of  '61,  when  the  gorgeous  col- 
ors of  the  woods  were  fading  and  the  crickets  in  the 

15 


16  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

corn  chirruped  to  the  coming  night;  while  nature  was 
vibrating  with  the  sybillant  song  of  death  and  the 
darkies  sought  the  'possum  and  the  coon,  "Colonel" 
Patter,  mounted  on  Long-Leaper,  and  Fate  Wolf, 
astride  his  black  steed,  Flat-Foot,  armed  with  knife 
and  rifle,  departed  for  the  military  miscellany  gath- 
ering at  Prestonsburg.  Side  by  side — Marshal  Ney 
and  Nick  Machiavel — they  rode  into  that  old  town. 

Alighting  in  front  of  Freeze's  Tavern,  they  were 
received  with  a  courtesy,  shall  we  say,  due  to  their 
apparent  rank  and  lofty  purpose;  no,  but  not  wholly 
unlike  the  landlord's  name. 

The  weather  was  chilly;  the  foliage  of  the  forest 
was  dead  or  in  the  sere  and  yellow  leaf;  vegetables 
were  exhausted  and  bread  had  risen  to  starvation 
prices. 

The  old  town  was  full  of  motley-dressed  men. 
Ragged  boys,  as  brave  as  Hugo's  Gavroche,  inces- 
santly sang  Dixie.  A  few  companies  of  uniformed 
State  Guards  presented  a  soldierly  appearance.  The 
manners  of  men  had  dropped  the  gay  forms  of  civil 
life  and  assumed  the  mystery  and  rage  of  civil  war 
whose  mad  folly  filled  every  heart.  All  minds  were 
wild  with  the  historic  valors  of  rebellious  patriotism. 
Nothing  seemed  worthy  of  study  but  the  cunning  of 
strategy  and  the  shrewd  quality  of  human  destruc- 
tion. 

The  next  morning  after  their  arrival,  "Colonel" 
Patter  rose  and  sallied  forth  among  the  "Revolution- 
ists," as  he  constantly  called  them.  He  made  many 
acquaintances  and  his  descriptions  of  the  situation 


i 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  17 

caused  not  a  few  to  hail,  with  delight,  his  and  Fate 
Wolf's  accession  to  the  camp.  For  several  days,  he 
progressed  finely  in  good  impressions;  but  the  con- 
stant use  of  hyperbole,  his  favorite  figure  in  rhetoric, 
soon  broke  the  spell  with  which  he  seemed  to  have 
bound  the  town.  Wagging  tongues  began  to  guy 
him,  at  a  distance.  He  saw  that  too  much  talk  would 
not  advance  his  ambition  to  command  the  gathering 
army,  and,  at  once,  assumed  the  mysterious  attitude 
of  a  man,  clothed  with  authority,  bent  upon  some 
great  design.  He  drew  the  cork  of  his  secret  and  it 
leaked  out  that  he  was  a  Knight  of  the  Golden  Cir- 
cle, was  possessed  of  a  commission  from  Richmond, 
and  that  he  had  come  on  an  exceedingly  delicate  mis- 
sion. Hearing  of  these  mysterious  claims,  the  Col- 
onel in  command  ordered  his  immediate  arrest  as  a 

spy- 

"In  the  guard  house!  Oh  my  country!  Has  it 
come  to  this?"  exclaimed  "Colonel"  Patter  to  Fate 
Wolf,  as  the  latter  came  running  from  the  Parade 
Grounds,  "that  I,  who  have  borne  the  heat  and  bur- 
den of  the  day  carrying  Kentucky  out  of  the  Union, 
should  be  subjected  to  this  outrage,  this  cabalistic 
effort  to  keep  down  my  military  preferment!  Charles 
the  Second  had  his  Cabinet  Cabal!  George  Wash- 
ington had  his  Conway  Cabal!  and  I  may  profit 
by " 

"Be  keerful,"  whispered  Fate  Wolf,  "en  don't  give 
'em  a  chance  ag'in  ye,  ur  ye  mout  be  hung  fur  tree- 
zon.  Ye  see  that  thar  word  hez  'tree'  in  it  en  hez  a 
'z'  in  the  middle  uv  it,  that's  jist  like  a  man  a  hangin* 

2 


18  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

on  a  tree,  en  ef  they  git  to  spellin'  it  over,  en 
a  lookin'  at  the  trees,  yarider  on  the  banks  uv  the 
Chattaroi,  en  then  ef  they  wus  to  see  a  rope  when  ye 
wus  abusin'  'em,  they  mout  h'ist  ye  shoar." 

"What  are  you  whispering  there  so  long  for?" 
shouted  the  guard  to  Fate  Wolf.  "Get  away,  or  I'll 
fork  you  up  with  my  bayonet." 

This  quite  broke  "Colonel"  Patter  down.  Seeing 
that  it  was  unsafe  to  talk  or  whisper,  he  wept. 

Having  recovered  himself  a  little,  he  said  to  the 
guard,  in  the  most  submissive  tones,  "May  I  ask 
Mr.  Wolf  a  question  in  your  hearing?" 

The  guard  looked  at  him  with  pity  and  contempt- 
uously said,  "Yes,  if  it  don't  mean  treason." 

"Mr.  Wolf,  where  is  my  horse?"  inquired  "Colonel" 
Patter. 

"TVell,  he's  yit  down  hyur  at  the  Freezin'  Tavern 
a  eatin'  the  trof  en  a  nibblin'  a  little  Revolutin  straw, 
ez  ye  would  a  called  it,  the  fust  days  we  got  hyur. " 

"Yes,"  said  the  imprisoned  "Colonel,"  "that  is 
true;  then  everything  was  Revolution  and  Revolu- 
tionists to  me  but " 

"Stop!"  cried  Fate  Wolf,  "don't  git  no  deeper  in 
nur  ye  air." 

"I  see!  I  see!"  mournfully  said  "Colonel"  Patter, 
"this  war  will  be  a  failure  unless  more  consideration 
is  given  men  of  prominence. " 

'  'If  you  say,  another  time,  the  war  will  be  a  failure, 
I'll  knock  a  daylight  hole  through  you,"  said  a 
TOugh,  rigid-looking  soldier,  who  had  come  up  and 
was  talking  with  the  guard. 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  19 

Alarm  spread  itself  over  "Colonel"  Patter's  feat- 
ures, but,  pretending  not  to  have  heard  the  remark, 
he  moved  to  the  back  part  of  the  guard  house,  show- 
ing more  nervousness  than  he  was  aware  of. 

There  was  a  window  in  that  part  of  the  building 
and  "Colonel"  Patter  cried,  "Raise  the  sash,  I  must 
have  fresh  air!    This  phthisic  is  awful!" 

The  soldier,  who  had  threatened  to  shoot  him, 
said,  "The  old  spy  just  took  the  phthisic  a  purpose 
to  draw  attention  from  his  treasonable  talk. " 

"Colonel"  Patter  became  silent  and  Fate  "Wolf 
went  away  to  watch  hi's  chance.  That  night  he  com- 
municated with  the  "Colonel"  from  the  narrow  alley 
upon  which  the  window  of  the  guard  house  opened. 
The  next  morning,  daylight  revealed  an  empty  guard 
house,  "Colonel"  Patter  and  Pate  Wolf  were  miles 
away,  rapidly  moving  upon  the  road  to  Roan.  The 
third  relief  of  guards  was  rigidly  examined  by  the 
Southern  Colonel  as  to  how  the  escape  was  effected. 
It  was  suggested  by  one  that  it  was  impossible  for  so 
large  a  man  as  "Colonel"  Patter  to  crawl  through  the 
little  window  at  the  rear-  of  the  guard  house.  The 
Colonel  said,  "Never  mind  the  window;  it's  a  good 
thing  the  old  gasconader  is  gone.  He  was  really  no 
spy  and  our  supplies  are  too  scarce  to  waste  on  non- 
combatants,"  and  so- dismissed  the  guards  with  his 
compliments,  for  he  had  secretly  ordered  one  of  them 
to  allow  the  escape.  But,  like  James  the  Second's 
flight  from  William  of  Orange,  "Colonel"  Patter's 
escape  from  the  Revolutionists  was  a  hair  breadth 
reality  to  him. 


20  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

On  the  way  back  to  Roan,  "Colonel"  Patter  and 
Fate  Wolf,  though  depressed,  discussed  the  war  in 
all  of  its  developed  phases  and  conditions.  Now  and 
then,  one  of  the  horses  would  step  on  a  dry  stick  and 
break  it  and  the  sharp  noise  would  cause  an  involun- 
tary jump  of  the  animals.  The  riders,  whirling  their 
faces  to  the  rear  and  seeing  no  pursuer,  would  nerv- 
ously jerk  the  reins  and  tremblingly  shout,  "Whoa, 
you  old  fool,  that's  nothing  to  get  scared  at!" 

For  a  mile  or  more  after  the  flurry,  the  disagreeing 
patriots  would  trend  to  a  common  understanding  on 
the  "failure  of  the  war."  They  agreed  that  it  had 
been  prematurely  begun  and  that  it  was  being  un- 
wisely conducted.  Having  gotten  far  enough  away 
from  the  Revolutionists  for  neither  horse  nor  rider 
to  be  alarmed  by  the  rude  sounds  of  snapping  sticks 
or  rustling  leaves,  Fate  Wolf's  mind  began  to  operate 
in  its  own  inimitable  fashion. 

He  said  slowly:  "Less  you  en  me  make  up  some 
trooths  about  our  trip  to  the  rebel  camp,  so  we  kin 
stand  afore  the  people  farrer  nur  we  did  afore  we 
went  to  this  hyur  rebelyon. " 

"Revolution,  sir!"  cried  "Colonel"  Patter,  "not  re- 
bellion," 

"Well,  I  alius  tuck  'em  to  be  the  same  whether- 
sumever  it  wur  revolutin  ur  rebellin.  Yit  less  us 
make  up  some  trooths  fur  our  pertection." 

"Colonel"  Patter  said,  "Truth  is  not  made  up  like 
lies.  Truth  makes  itself  up  and  lies  make  you  make 
them  up  and  give  you  all  the  trouble  they  can  while 
you  are  at  it.  You  had  better  let  the  truth  alone,  and. 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  21 

as  for  making  up  lies,  that's  awful  dangerous  in  these 
ticklish  times." 

"But  yit,  ye  don't  onderstand  me,  ur  I  aint  yit 
onderstood  myself,"  said  Fate  Wolf. 

"Well,  rejoined  "Colonel"  Patter,  "when  a  thing 
is  understood,  you  can  understand  it." 

Fate  Wolf  went  into  a  brown  study  for  several 
minutes.  "Some  men,"  he  said,  "talks  wiser  nur 
they  thinks,  en  says  things  they  don't  onderstand, 
but,  yit,  a  nuther  feller  kin  onderstand  'em." 

"That  may  be  true,"  replied  "Colonel"  Patter, 
"but  how  to  make  up  truths  and  tell  no  lies,  while 
you  are  at  it,  is  most  too  revolutionary  for  me." 

Fate  Wolf  was  silent  and  "Colonel"  Patter  pro- 
ceeded, '  'If  I  had  said  nothing  about  the  Knights  of 
the  Golden  Circle  and  the  Richmond  Commission,  we 
would  not  now  be  fugitives  from  justice,  scampering 
through  the  woods  and  across  public  roads  while  one 
of  us  looks  to  the  right  and  the  other  to  the  left.  We 
have  been  talking  face  from  face  ever  since  daylight 
and  my  horse,  dumb  beast  as  he  is,  has  been  scared 
so  often  that  I  believe  the  vulgar  quality  of  coward- 
ice is  creeping  over  me  like  a  half-dead  lizzard. 
Now,  I  wish  to  confide  a  secret  to  you." 

"All  right,"  said  Fate  Wolf,  "I'll  confisticate  it." 

"Then,  sir,  it  is  this,"  said  "Colonel"  Patter;  "I 
would  not  go  through  such  humiliation,  anxiety  and 
agony  again  to  become  the  leader  of  the  French  Rev- 
olution! But  how  am  I  to  get  back  home  in  honor? 
The  Union  men  (I  no  longer  have  the  right  to  call 
them    'Yankees')    have  taken  possession  of  Branch 


22  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

County  and  all  other  important  points  in  Kentucky." 

"Jess  stop  a  minit,"  said  Pate  Wolf,  "I  kin  fix  it. 
I'll  tell  'em  I  jess  went  along  with  ye  to  fotch  ye 
back  arter  we  seed  the  elephant.  Everybody  are  be- 
known  to  my  Union  sentiments.  Ye  kin  hide  a  week 
in  the  woods.  Lemme  go  among  'em.  Then  we'll 
trot  ye  on  Long-Leaper  into  Roan,  ez  a  returned  spy. 
Ye  kin  make  a  speech  en  tell  'em  uv  our  narrer  'scajDe 
en  danger  durin'  uv  the  dreadful  days  we  wus  a  spy- 
in'  on  the  rebels." 

"Colonel"  Patter,  without  suggesting  "Revolu- 
tionists" for  "Rebels,"  according  to  his  uniform  cus- 
tom, acquiesced,  turned  off  to  the  right  and  was 
quickly  in  the  heavy  woods  of  Catamount  Creek. 
Pate  Wolf  rode  on  to  the  town  of  Roan.  On  the  way 
he  stopped  at  "Colonel"  Patter's  farm  and  said  to 
Mrs.  Patter,  "Send  him  pervisions  en  a  leetle  sperits 
en  leave  'em  on  the  deer-blind  whur  Beach  Branch 
cums  into  Catamount  Crick.  Say  nuthin'  to  nobody. 
Then  cum  back  across  the  mount'in  at  Lock  Ege's 
Rock." 

The  reader  will  note  that  while  Pate  Wolf  is  an 
irregular  speller  and  neglects  some  of  the  rules  of 
grammar,  he  finally  drags  his  ideas  in  fair  living  con- 
dition from  under  the  dead  fall  of  confusion.  If  this 
apology  is  acccepted,  no  more  will  be  made  for  him. 

Penn  Grabb^,  who  had  recently  returned  from 
camp  Dick  Robinson,  whither  he  had  carried  another 
load  of  recruits  under  his  contract  for  live  stock,  met 
Pate  Wolf  at  the  Tavern  in  Roan. 

Mutual  recognition  was  quick,  but  the  latter  took 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  23 

the  start  of  Grabbe  by  shouting,  as  his  sides  shook 
with  laughter  and  his  big  dirty-blue  eyes  filled  with 
water,  "Now  jess  hold  on.  Ha,  ha,  ha!  Oh,  ho,  hoi 
Wait  untell  I'm  dun  laughin',  ha,  ha,  ha!  "Whoo  wheeT 
This  hyur  war  beats  the  wurld !  I've  had  more  fun 
en  larned  more  about  this  hyur  rebelyon  than  ever 
I  knowed  afore,  ur  expects  to  larn  ag'in." 

"Stop,"  cried  Penn  Grabbe,  "I  have  recently 
heard  that  you  once  stole  a  free  negro  boy,  by  the 
name  of  Fate,  and  carried  him  off  in  the  night,  and 
that  while  being  sold  on  the  block  as  a  slave,  at  Lex- 
ington, Jack  May,  now  a  rebel  Colonel,  who  had  pur- 
sued you  in  your  kidnaping  expedition,  appeared, 
stopped  the  sale,  had  you  arrested  and  took  the  poor 
boy  home.  I  have  also  heard  that  the  name  you 
bear  is  a  nickname  applied  to  you  from  that  act.  If 
these  facts  be  true,  you  can  not  fool  me  with  your 
Rebel-Union  loyalty,  or  explain  your  recent  trip  to 
Prestonsburg " 

"Thair  now,"  interrupted  Pate  Wolf,  "don't  com- 
mit yerself  no  f  urder  ag'in  ez  good  a  Union  man  ez  ye 
air  afore  ye  git  the  top  en  the  bottom  ez  well  ez  both 
sides  uv  that  thair  story.  Sum  people  say  one  side 
is  good  tell  t'other  is  told." 

"Then  it  is  often  better,"  interposed  Grabbe,  "so 
go  on." 

'  'But  I  say  nary  side  is  good  tell  the  bottom  en  the 
top  is  put  in,  fur  a  tub  wi'  no  bottom  nur  no  top  won't 
hold  water,  less  more  sperits,  at  the  price  you  charged 
the  Guverment  fur  Tom  McShite's  turnin'  ag'in  sea- 
sesshun." 


24  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

The  last  hint  put  a  stop  to  Penn  Grabb^'s  little 
Spanish  Inquisition  and  started  him  to  thinking  how 
Fate  Wolf  discovered  the  existence  of  the  contract 
for  "incidental  expenses." 

"I  have  collected  no  money  from  the  Government 
for  spirits,"  said  Penn  Grabb6,  rather  sulkily. 

"Ef  ye  haint  kerlected  it,  that  don't  show  ye  haint 
got  it  charged  ag'in  the  Guverment.  I  seed  the  score, 
'63  qts.,'  on  the  bar  winder,  en  ye  haint  the  man  to 
stand  to  lose  it,  en  the  Guverment " 

"Hold  on,"  interrupted  Penn  Grabb6,  in  pliable 
tones  and  with  a  forgiving  smile,  the  tendency  of 
Pate  Wolf's  talk  becoming  too  suggestive,  "tell  us 
about  your  trip." 

"Didn't  ye  never  hyur  uv  how  the  British  cap- 
toored  Filly  deify?  They  tuck  it,  en  it  tuck  them. 
That's  the  way  me  en  'Colonel'  Patter  cum  out  at 
Prestonsburg. " 

"Now  that  you  have  got  'Colonel'  Patter  back, 
what  must  we  do  with  him?"  remarked  Penn  Grabbe, 
converting  Fate  Wolf  into  an  advisory  friend  of  Gov- 
ernment. 

"How  do  ye  know  I've  got  him  back?"  asked  Fate 
Wolf. 

"Well,  he  was  seen  with  you  on  the  head  of  Cat- 
amount Creek  yesterday  morning. " 

"That's  so,  en  jess  leave  him  to  me;  I'll  fotch  him 
in  en  git  him  to  make  a  injured  speech  ag'in  the 
tirany  uv  the  rebels  en  git  him  on  our  side  yit." 

"That  is  good!  Excellent!  Tell  him  the  Govern- 
ment will  give  big  bounties  and  pensions  for  all  our 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  25 

Union  kin  before  this  war  is  over,  and  we  expect  all 
the  real  business  element  of  the  State  to  join  the 
Union  army." 

"That's  wun  uv  Peck's  idees,"  said  Fate  Wolf. 
"I've  bean  a  sigh  tin'  along  that  gun  baarl  myself,  en 
it'll  do  shootin'  shoar." 

Penn  Grabbe  laughed  and  asked,  "Shall  we  meet 
to-morrow?" 

"Y-e-s,  s-i-r,"  responded  Pate  Wolf,  "fur  thishyur 
war  beats  ennything  ever  I  seed,  en  we  must  keep  up 
with  the  percession." 

Next  morning  he  reported  that  "Colonel"  Patter 
had  gone,  but  whither  or  for  what  cause  he  was  un- 
able to  tell.  "Onless,"  he  said,  "it  wus  on  a  spyful 
expedition,  which  wus  turrible  dang'rous  ef  he  wus 
to  be  captoored  ag'in." 


III. 

THE  Grabbes,  who  subsequently  had  two  letters 
added  to  their  name,  by  patronymic  changes  so 
common  in  America,  were  of  French  extraction,  but 
crossed  with  Puritan  stock,  long  before  the  names  of 
"Wolf  and  Montcalm  became  jointly  immortal  on  the 
heights  of  Abraham. 

The  Grabbes  had  left  Canada  anterior  to  the  his- 
toric event  last  noted,  and  but  little  is,  therefore, 
known  of  their  antecedents.  They  settled  on  the 
Hackanum  River,  which  flows  into  the  Connecticut 
a  short  distance  below  Hartford.  Selecting  a  ro- 
mantic spot  near  its  source,  they  quickly  built  a 
dwelling  and  began  that  home-like  life  which  helped 
to  fill  the  hive  of  humanity  whence  many  swarms 
since  their  day  have  flown  northwestward.  Finally, 
by  Search,  Impressement  and  Insolence,  the  British 
broke  the  peace  of  thirty  years,  and  the  American 
Congress,  inspired  by  a  Kentuckian,  declared  war. 
In  1814,  the  Blue  Light  Convention  met  in  Hartford, 
and,  with  closed  doors,  discussed  subjects  and  meth- 
ods which  still  rest  in  the  mists  of  secrecy. 

The  Grabbes  received  lasting  impressions  of  the 
impolicy  of  the  war  of  1812  from  one  of  the  delegates 
who  lived  on  the  Hackanum.     He  told  them  in  plain 

26 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  27 

terms  that  it  was  a  democratic  war  inspired  by  Na- 
poleon (whom,  he  knew,  they  detested);  that  it  was 
carried  on  to  popularize  anti-federal  politics,  of  which 
the  country  had  had  a  sickening  surfeit  from  the 
hands  of  that  educated  plebeian,  Thomas  Jefferson; 
that  the  war  was  impolitic  because  it  jeopardized  the 
trade  and  traffic  of  the  New  England  States  and  set 
their  commercial  spirit  back  a  century;  and  that  all 
these  evils  were  attempted  to  be  justified  on  the 
ground  that  a  few  unidentified  Americans  had  been 
seized  for  the  needs  of  the  navy  of  the  Mother  Coun- 
try in  her  numerous  wars  against  that  national  rob- 
ber, Bonaparte. 

These  arguments,  the  ancestral  loyalty  to  England, 
which  unreasonably  exists  in  Canada  to-day,  and  an 
impending  draft  on  the  Hackanum,  caused  the  Grab- 
b6s  to  leave  behind  the  curving  currents  of  the  pic- 
turesque river,  the  wintry  hills  and  the  circling 
mountains  of  Tolland  County,  and  to  permanently 
settle  in  a  new  haven  of  rest  in  the  wild  country  adja- 
cent to  the  deep  blue  waters  of  Erie,  whence  Michi- 
gan and  Ohio's  dividing  line  runs  due  westward.  In 
the  new  home  a  son  was  born  who  was  destined  to 
become  the  greatest  strategist  of  the  War  of  Politics. 
These  pages  are  written  to  rescue  his  fame  from 
oblivion  and  vitalize  his  virtues  for  the  benefit  of 
future  generations  of  his  caste.  ■ 

He  was  born  on  the  eighth  of  January,  1815,  just  as 
a  flock  of  wild  geese,  storm  sent,  was  flying  like  "a 
great  arrow  through  the  sky"  toward  the  canebrakes 
of  Kentucky  and  the  rice  fields  of  the  South. 


28  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

On  that  day  Wellington's  veterans  were  riddled  by- 
Tennessee  and  Kentucky  rifle-balls  and  Packenham, 
the  brother-in-law  of  the  Iron  Duke,  was  slain.  All 
this  occurred  on  the  left  bank  of  the  Mississippi  river, 
just  below  the  city  of  New  Orleans,  after  peace  had 
been  made. 

Mrs.  Grabb^,  having  heard  of  the  great  victory  be- 
fore christening  her  son,  pondered  on  the  augury  of 
circling  wings  and  war's  red  omen  and  inclined  to 
name  him  Andrew  Jackson,  but  his  father  preferred 
Packenham.  The  puritan  mother  knew  too  well  how 
unpopular  that  name  would  be  to  let  her  son  wear  it, 
and,  finally,  to  shield  the  child's  future,  persuaded 
her  husband  to  throw  aside  military  names  altogether 
and  adopt  one  of  peaceful  significance.  Thus  he  be- 
came Penn  Grabb6,  partly  in  honor  of  quaker  religion, 
partly  as  a  tribute  to  the  civil  maxim,  "The  pen  is 
mightier  than  the  sword. "  After  the  custom  of  New 
England,  he  was  educated  in  mathematics  and  me- 
chanics. Through  heredity  and  training,  he  was 
prudent  and  far-seeing.  He  never  assumed  responsi- 
bility of  an  undertaking  before  calculating  the 
chances  of  success  or  failure.  In  cases,  however,  of 
high  grade  of  doubt,  he  has  been  known,  after  calm 
consideration,  to  say  to  another,  "You  might  as  well 
try  it,  for  mankind  has  some  chance  of  success  in 
anything." 

Along  the  same  meridian  the  wild  geese  had  flown 
at  his  birth,  he  came  to  Kentucky,  seeking  richer 
fields  of  living,  and  settled  in  Branch  County  the 
same  year  the  Know  Nothings  were  so  bad.     Shortly 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  29 

after  his  arrival,  he  joined  the  nearest  Know  Nothing 
Lodge,  and  began  teaching  school.  He  soon  disclosed 
an  inclination  to  participate  in  public  affairs  and  or- 
ganized a  Debating  Club,  in  which  he  cultivated  and 
displayed  pure  cunning  of  mind  as  distinguished  from 
information  or  principle,  and  made  it  plain  that  a 
republic  which  clears  the  way  to  any  office  for  all  men 
will  early  produce  the  adroit  and  disputatious  quality 
of  the  Greeks  or  the  vivida  vis  animi  of  that  one- 
languaged  people. 

But  beneath  the  sea  of  words  poured  upon  Ameri- 
can soil  from  the  shores  of  every  stream  lying  be- 
tween the  Himalayas  and  the  Guadalquivir  or  that 
flows  into  England's  channel  or  the  Baltic,  lie  hidden 
the  rocks  of  confusion,  equivocation  and  dema- 
goguery.  Many  words  becloud  the  energy  of  thought, 
cloak  deception  and  mislead  the  ignorant.  They  are 
mightiest  among  the  mighty  forces  against  which 
truth  and  goodness  contend.  Hearts  are  hardened 
into  stone  by  them.  Souls,  flimsy  as  white  smoke, 
and  consciences,  weaker  than  a  rotten  thread,  grow 
from  wordy  tongues,  slow  listeners  and  the  passion- 
ate. In  this  land  of  great  liberty,  volubility  is,  often, 
taken  for  wisdom;  passion,  for  eloquence;  here  the 
joke- teller  retires  the  statesman;  students  of  little 
motives,  observant  observers  of  local  politics,  fling 
their  wordy  commonplaces  to  the  breeze  of  popular 
favor  and  stand  with  unblushing  cheek  and  vapid 
thought  in  high  places — but  why  specialize? — the 
mere  and  unspecified  American  verbalist — where  is 
he  not? 


30  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

Penn  Grabb6  was  not  long  in  developing  an  ambi- 
tion to  serve  the  people  in  perquisitional  stations. 
These  manifested  methods  and  tendencies  were  nat- 
ural, for  his  ancestors  possessed  their  evolutionary- 
germs.  The  early  Anglo-Saxon-Puritan  created  the 
protoplasm  of  profitable  politics  at  the  same  time  he 
was  laboring  to  unify  the  double  problem  of  civil 
liberty  and  religious  slavery. 

When  a  New  Englander  comes  West  to  grow  up 
with  the  country  or  to  it,  false  modesty  is  left  behind 
him ;  limits  fixed  to  qualifications  for  office  are  cleared 
with  one  bound  and,  at  once,  he  becomes  a  part  of  the 
community.  Periods  of  probation  disappear  in  the 
boldness  or  effrontery  of  his  endeavor.  The  New 
England  descendants  of  the  West  are  the  most  adroit, 
persistent  and  successful  politicians  of  the  world's 
civil  history.  They  can  beat  a  hostile  community  out 
of  its  prejudices  and  secure  its  confidence  while  the 
native  is  drooping  under  one  defeat  or  politically 
dying  from  another.  After  a  public  rubber  of  the 
best  two  out  of  three  for  an  office,  the  voice  of  the 
losing  native  is  silent  upon  the  hustings,  his  dilapi- 
dated farm  speaks  poetically  of  the  lost  cause  or  his 
law-books  are  too  dusty  to  handle,  so  he  goes  West 
or  into  desuetude,  while,  under  like  conditions,  the 
New  England  emigrant  thrives  and  finishes  up  with 
a  victory. 


IV. 

ON  the  way  to  the  recruiting  camp  with  Tom  Mc- 
Shite,  Penn  Grabbe  sharked  up  a  small  list  of 
"incidental"  patriots.  When  he  arrived,  the  Govern- 
ment owed  him  five  hundred  and  twelve  dollars, 
which  was  the  contract  price  for  thirteen  recruits 
with  incidental  expenses.  At  once  he  made  out  a 
requisition  for  rations.  It  included  spirits  for  twenty- 
six.  The  commanding  Colonel  asked,  "Why  so  much 
whisky?"  Penn  Grabb^  answered,  "Because  Ken- 
tucky patriotism  must  be  kept  insj)ired  or  it  might 
become  human  and  go  with  her  Southern  sisters. 
You  can't  tell  what  a  man  will  do  when  he  is  oppos- 
ing nature.  He  is  just  as  apt  to  go  back  on  himself 
as  to  go  forward  on  the  enemy." 

The  Colonel  thought  a  moment.  "Grabb^,  you  are 
wiser  than  the  children  of  light.  You  can  continue 
the  spirits." 

There  were  but  three  thousand  unconditional 
Unionists  in  Kentucky  w^hen  the  war  broke  out  and 
no  man  knew  it  better  than  Penn  Grabbe,  for  he  had 
been  Sheriff  of  Branch  County  and  served  one  term 
in  the  Legislature. 

Possessing  quick  parts  and  being  a  subtile  reader 
of  the  interested  motives  of  men,  by  the  time  the  war 

31 


32  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

opened  he  understood  local  affairs,  influences  and 
passions  which  governed  them  better  than  any  man 
in  that  county.  A  small,  keen,  but  lulling,  black 
eye,  ruddy  face  and  a  home-made  smile  greeted  every 
one  whom  he  met  in  need  of  a  smile.  But  he  could 
meet  the  serious  with  gravity.  His  tongue  never  be- 
came an  unruly  member,  except  when  indulging  the 
annoying  penchant  of  asking  questions.  His  feat- 
ures were  regular,  his  beard  glossy,  black  and  very 
fine.  His  well-knitted  frame  lacked  the  easy  grace 
of  a  tall  man  and  the  free  elegance  of  long  limbs  and 
tapering  fingers.  He  stood  upon  short  feet  with 
high  insteps.  His  hands  were  small,  the  fingers  and 
thumbs  were  slightly  stubby  and  tipped  with  short, 
square  nails.  His  health  was  buoyant  and  his  animal 
spirits  glowed  like  the  realms  of  ether,  though  pas- 
sion never  fought  a  battle  with  virtue  on  the  field  of 
his  soul.  Material  success  engrossed  his  powers  and 
the  methods  of  strategy  possessed  his  being.  Indi- 
rection gave  him  mental  joy,  while  direct  methods 
tested  his  self-possession  too  strongly.  He  studied 
strategy  and  played  the  game  of  life,  excluding  ex- 
citement and  sentiment  from  every  move,  as  one 
incorporated  with  mathematics  and  severed  from  the 
pathos  of  human  existence.  He  was  not  cruel,  but 
an  indirect  law-breaker,  seeking  the  law's  avoidance, 
when  it  crossed  the  path  of  his  purpose,  and  avoid- 
ing its  sequence  when  caught  in  its  violation. 

During  the  fall  of  1861  and  the  ensuing  winter,  he 
had  delivered  forty-three  wagon-loads  of  recruits, 
averaging  ten  each  to  the  various  recruiting  stations 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  33 

in  Kentucky.  For  recruits  he  was  to  receive  twenty 
dollars  per  head  and  all  direct  and  "incidental  ex- 
penses." The  four  hundred  and  thirty  recruits  came 
to  eight  thousand  six  hundred  dollars.  The  Quar- 
termaster agreed  to  that  claim  and  gave  him  a 
voucher  for  it.  The  expense  account  was  next  pre- 
sented: 

^^ First  Item — Forty-three  wagons  and  teams 

thirty  days  at  $6  per  day $7,740. " 

"My    goodness!"   exclaimed    the    Quartermaster,^ 
"isn't  that  item  too  high?" 

"No,  no,"  replied  Penn  Grabb6,  "the  item  is  low. 
I  knocked  off  all  pieces  of  days  and  left  out  the  sa- 
cred Sabbath,  because  the  Good  Book  says,  'Keep  it 
holy, '  yet  the  expenses  of  the  wagons  rolled  on.  An- 
other thing.  Major  Paymento,  the  rebels  owned  all 
the  wagons  and  horses,  in  the  various  sections  where 
I  recruited,  and  the  women,  invariably,  fixed  the 
charges  against  the  Government  at  seven  dollars  and 
eight  dollars  per  day,  but  I  reduced  the  price  to  six 
dollars,  agreeing  to  drive  myself,  in  the  event  none 
of  the  recruits  were  sober  enough  to  do  so." 

Major  Paymento,  at  once,  saw  the  difficulties  with, 
which  the  disloyal  had  obstructed  the  patriotic  work 
of  the  indefatigable  Grabb6  and  begged  his  pardon, 
saying,  "Let  this  item  pass,  for  this  Southern 
woman's  rebellion  must  be  put  down.  They  started 
it  and  are  now  put  forward  to  obstruct  us,  because 
we  can  not  arrest  and  shoot  them  as  freely  as  we 
would  their  treasonable  fathers,  husbands  and  broth- 


34  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

ers,  if  they  dared  to  charge  seven  dollars  a  day  for 
■wagons  and  teams  not  worth  a  cent  over  two  dollars 
and  fifty  cents  a  day. " 

"Hold  on,"  cried  Perm  Grabb^,  "you  have  not 
heard  the  worst.  They  have  put  whisky  up  to  four 
•dollars  a  quart.  Now,  look  at  this  item  of  incidental 
expenses,  it  will  amaze  you. " 

"Item — Spirits  for  430  recruits, 

1  qt.  per  day  for  each  recruit,  30  days, 

at  $4  per  qt $51,600." 

"The  Government  won't  stand  that!"  shouted  Major 
Paymento,  in  a  rage,  jumping  to  his  feet;  "I  know 
nothing  of  your  'incidental  expenses!'  Alexander 
the  Great  couldn't  use  up  that  much  whisky!" 

"Hold  on!"  said  Penn  Grabb6,  "Alexander  the 
Great,  like  General  Grant,  was  a  great  lover  of  spir- 
its! Mr.  Lincoln  himself  has  been  hunting  around 
for  some  of  Grant's  spirits  to  give  to  his  other  Gen- 
erals; and  I  believe  he  would  give  $4  a  quart  rather 
than  fail  to  get  it;  besides,  here  is  my  contract," 
handing  it  to  Major  Paymento. 

After  reading  it  the  Major  said  violently,  "This  is 
a  contract  for  cattle,  horses  and  mules,  and  not  for 
men. " 

'  'Hold  on,  you  are  mistaken, "  soothingly  said  Penn 
Grabb^,  "it  takes  in  all  four  species  you  have  named. 
See,  on  the  fourth  page,  just  after  'cattle,  14  cts.  per 
pound;  mules,  $200  per  head,'  the  words,  'for  recruits, 
.$20  per  head  and  all  direct  and  incidental  expenses.'  " 

'  'The  officer  who  made  the  contract  with  you,  sir, 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  35 

ought  to  be  cashiered,"  shouted  Major  Paymento, 
addmg  in  the  most  dramatic  way,  "I  have  been  in 
the  regular  army  for  forty  years,  and  never  heard  of 
such  a  contract  as  this  before. " 

"But,  hold  on,"  said  Penn  Grabb6,  in  kindly  tones, 
"wait  until  you  hear  what  I  have  gone  through  with 
on  account  of  this  item  of  'incidental  expenses. '  A 
fe,w  days  after  the  battle  of  Bull  Run  I  got  my  first 
*y|ruit  at  the  town  of  Roan.  There  I  met  a  rebel 
recruiting  officer  called  'Colonel'  Patter,  whom  I  had 
known  in  Branch  County  since  the  year  1855.  That 
day's  work  was  the  hardest  I  ever  did,  and,  while 
I  got  only  one  recruit,  a  soldier  by  the  name  of  Tom 
McShite,  who  is  still  in  the  army  doing  good  serv- 
ice as  aid  to  a  teamster,  yet  I  so  shaped  public  senti- 
ment in  Branch  County  that  after  all  the  rebels  had 
volunteered  and  gone  off  and  I  could  go  back,  I  raised 
over  a  hundred  equally  as  good  as  Tom  McShite. 
But  that  first  day's  work  cost  the  Government  two 
hundred  and  fifty-two  dollars  for  'incidental  ex- 
penses!' The  rebel  tavern-keeper  had  the  score 
marked  '63  qts.'  on  the  shutter  of  the  window.  I 
can  see  in  my  mind's  eye  those  figures  to  this  day. 
They  always  remind  me  of  that  unfortunate  North- 
ern man,  Rip  Van  Winkle,  of  New  York.  At  another 
recruiting  ground  which  I  had  picked  bar-rooms  were 
plenty,  and  I  thought  the  'Incidentals'  would  be  lim- 
ited, but  quite  the  reverse,  sir;  quite  the  reverse! 
The  tavern-keepers  and  tapsters  were  mostly  rebels, 
and  the  few  Union  men  engaged  in  these  avocations 
had  a  false  notion  of  the  wealth  of  the  Government 


36  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

and  declared  they  had  more  right  to  charge  four  dol- 
lars per  quart  than  rebels,  and  would  take  no  less. 
The  market  was  feverish  from  morning  till  night,  as 
the  supply  began  to  fail  to  meet  the  demand.  Fi- 
nally blackberry  wine  and  hard  cider,  dashed  with 
spirits,  went  up  to  the  high  water  mark.  Then  I  was 
in  their  power!  Without  spirits  they  knew  no  busi- 
ness could  be  done  by  me  for  the  Government,  and; 
they,  also,  were  aware  I  did  not  intend  every body^lj^p 
go  into  the  rebel  army  if  I  could  prevent  it.  Sober 
patriotism  is  not  aggressive  in  Kentucky,  Major, 
and  no  Union  recruiting  officer  can  do  much  good  in 
this  State  without  spirits.  I  thought,  at  times,  I 
would  confiscate  the  rebel  spirits,  but  soon  saw  that 
would  be  bad  policy,  as  well  as  difiicult  to  do.  I 
got  more  recruits  from  their  establishments,  to 
which  they  induced  Union  men  to  come  to  convert 
them  to  treason,  than  from  other  places  where  none 
but  loyal  spirits  were  sold.  I  have  heard  the  wives 
and  daughters  of  rebel  tavern-keepers  say  openly 
that  Yankees  should  neither  eat  nor  drink  at  their 
taverns,  if  they  had  their  way.  Many  a  time  I 
have  taken  a  recruit  up  to  the  counter  to  treat  him 
after  he  had  volunteered  to  become  one  of  the  noble 
band  to  save  the  life  of  the  Nation,  and  there  seen 
him  insulted  by  the  women,  who  would  say,  'Eph, ' 
or  'Tom,'  or  whatever  his  name  might  be,  'are  you 
going  into  the  Yankee  army  for  a  quart  of  whisky 
and  sell  yourself  for  thirteen  dollars  a  month  like  an 
ox  or  a  hired-out  nigger?'  The  poor  fellow's  coun- 
tenance would  drop — my  blood  would  boil — " 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  37 

"That's  enough,  stop!"  cried  Major  Paymento, 
"my  blood  is  boiling,  too!  Let  the  'Incidental'  item 
pass!  The  life  of  this  Nation  shall  be  saved,  if  it 
breaks  the  Treasury." 

"Major  Paymento,  I  must  thank  you,  not  for  the 
allowance  of  this  'Incidental'  item,  which  will  cost 
me  more  than  it  comes  to  in  the  long  run,  but  for 
the  quick  perception  and  broad  comprehension  of  the 
condition  of  loyalty  in  Kentucky,  which  you  have 
manifested  at  each  turn  in  the  road  of  this  conversa- 
tion and  settlement.  Your  surprise  and  indignation 
as  we  went  along,  before  all  the  facts  were  stated, 
were  as  creditable  to  your  heart  as  your  present  judg- 
ment is  to  your  head." 

They  shook  hands,  the  old  Major  looking  bewil- 
dered and  Grabbe  feeling  like  Pouchy  after  throwing 
his  own  police  off  the  scent  of  a  returned  emigre, 
whose  favor  he  wished  if  Napoleon  should  fall. 


V. 

^^'T'HINK  of  a  State  full  of  rebels  treating  the 
1  representative  of  the  United  States  Govern- 
ment as  Grabbe  has  been  treated!  He  told  me  pri- 
vately that  his  claims  against  the  Government  would 
scarcely  pay  him  out  of  debt,  and  that  in  all  prob- 
ability he  would  be  .bankrupted  by  his  efforts  for  the 
Union!" 

A  gentle  knock  on  the  door  had  failed  to  attract 
Major  Paymento  from  his  indignant  and  sympathetic 
thoughts.  A  repetition  of  the  rap  caused  him  to  look 
around  and  cry,  '  'Come  in. "  The  door  opened  and  a 
young  woman  entered.  Her  open  face  was  candid, 
and  her  movements  very  graceful.  She  had  large, 
blue  eyes,  fair  complexion,  ligh-brown  hair  and  a 
perfect  forehead.  Her  chin,  cut  as  if  with  a  chisel, 
showed  both  tenderness  and  strength.  She  was  in 
her  twentieth  year. 

The  Major  arose  and  received  her  with  the  gal- 
lantry of  an  old  army  officer.  He  bade  her  take  a 
seat  and  said  kindly,  '  'My  dear,  what  may  I  do  for 
you?" 

"Nothing,  except  to  get  me  the  position  of  field 
hospital  nurse  in  the  army  of  the  Tennessee  or 
Ohio." 

38 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  39 

"There  is  no  trouble  to  do  that,"  said  he,  "but  you 
are  so  young  I  fear  the  exposure  might  ^^be  too  much 
for  you." 

'  'O  never  fear !  for  I  am  very  healthy  and  my  heart 
is  in  the  cause.  That  makes  one  either  brave,  indus- 
trious or  capable  of  using  all  one's  power.  It  pre- 
vents weariness  and  gives  to  work  zest  and  the  at- 
tractiveness of  well-doing." 

"Hi,  yi!  You  are  aheroine  and  a  philosopher,  both 
in  one." 

"No,  no!  I  am  only  in  love  with  my  country  and 
humanity." 

'  'What  do  you  consider  your  country  and  human- 
ity?" 

Her  eyes  qpened  a  little  wider,  the  modest  look 
grew  stronger,  and,  with  flushing  cheeks  and  a  sweet 
voice  which  shook  slightly,  she  half  exclaimed,  '  'My 
country  is  America!    My  humanity,  all  Americans!" 

"Your  generalization  would  embrace  the  Southern 
Confederacy  and  the  rebels!"  was  his  quick  remark. 

"It  was  intended  to  do  so." 

Major  Paymento  thought  deeply  for  a  minute,  then, 
turning  his  gray  eyes  full  upon  her,  with  a  bright 
tear  in  each,  said,  "Child,  you  have  started  anew 
the  lesson  of  charity  which  I  was  about  to  shut  from 
my  heart  in  my  zeal  for  the  Union.  This  is  yet 
one  country,  and  the  rebels  a  part  of  humanity." 

Just  at  this  moment  an  aide-de-camp  of  General 
Bright  entered  in  some  trepidation  and  hurriedly 
stated  that  General  Grant  was  being  defeated  at 
Pittsburg  Landing;  that  all  the  available  troops  sta- 
tioned in  Kentucky  were  ordered  to  reinforce  him". 


40  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

The  old  Major  never  forgot  his  politeness  in  the 
presence  of  women,  although  he  almost  threatened 
to  kill  some  of  them  during  Penn  Grabb^'s  recital. 
He  had  risen  while  the  Aid  was  talking,  and,  when 
the  latter  finished,  introduced  him  to  the  young 
woman,  saying,  "This  is  Lieutenant  McCook.  May 
I  ask  your  name?" 

"Yes,"  said  she,  "my  name  is  Lema  Sayr." 

'  'Lieutenant,  this  young  woman  wants  the  position 
of  field  hospital  nurse.  Will  you  say  to  General 
Bright  that  I  vouch  for  her?" 

"I  will,"  said  Lieutenant  McCook,  and  turning  to 
her  continued,  laughingly,  "It  will  give  me  great 
pleasure;  but  not  so  much  as  to  become  the  hero  of 
your  rescue  from  danger." 

She  laughed  pleasantly,  saying:  "How  gallant  your 
words  are!  You  may  have  a  chance  to  verify  them, 
for  I  intend  starting  for  Pittsburg  Landing  to-night." 

'  'Oh,  don't  go !  You  might  get  killed,  for  fighting 
may  go  on  there  for  a  week." 

"That  will  make  it  all  the  more  important  for  me 
to  be  there  to  help  care  for  the  wounded,"  she  said 
calmly. 

Major  Paymento  looked  upon  her  ^ith  great  ad- 
miration and  McCook  appeared  to  be  much  interested 
in  her  fate.  He  extended  his  hand  and  with  a  gentle, 
manly  bow  said:  "May  I  shake  your  hand  as  I  say 
good-bye?" 

She  took  his  hand  and  with  a  brave  look  bade  him 
good-bye. 

Lieutenant    McCook    showed    some  lack  of   self- 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  41 

possession.  But  why  should  his  spirit  begin,  without 
cause,  to  feel  in  need  of  consolation?  Thinking  thus, 
he  departed,  but  he  carried  a  new  image  with  him,  an 
image  destined  to  rise  in  the  vast  war's  dangers  which 
were  yet  to  close  about  him  on  an  hundred  fields. 

Major  Paymento  invited  Miss  Sayr  to  go  to  his 
wife's  quarters  and  await  permission  to  act  as  nurse. 
Mrs.  Paymento  received  her  in  kindly  fashion  and 
made  her  feel  at  home.  She  had  not  long  to  stay, 
however,  for  Lieutenant  McCook  returned  in  an  hour 
with  the  permit  and  an  unlimited  pass  to  go  and  come 
at  will.  He  delivered  them  and  retired  quickly  and 
in  silence. 

A  vague  feeling  came  over  her  that  his  heart  had 
gone  out  to  her.  What  is  it  that  intuitive  woman 
does  not  know  of  the  heart  or  its  secrets,  though  they 
be  seemingly  past  finding  out?  From  the  grasp  of 
the  hand,  the  glance  of  the  eye,  the  tone  of  the  voice, 
a  bow,  a  movement,  even  from  silence,  its  intangible 
currents  are  caught;  noting  faults,  as  she  forgives 
them,  and  taking  off  the  message  whether  the  sender 
will  or  no.  Love  is  always  welcome  to  the  heart  of 
woman.  If  free  from  dross,  even  love  that  can  never 
be  enjoyed  is  a  gracious  thing  in  the  heart  of  her 
heart. 

At  midnight  the  train  started  for  the  Tennessee. 
General  Bright  and  staff  were  aboard.  Lieutenant 
McCook  attended  to  everything  that  night  to  make 
Lema  safe  or  comfortable,  yet  he  tried  to  keep  his  acts 
free  from  notice.  The  more,  however,  he  strove,  the 
plainer  it  appeared  he  was  very  attentive.     At  day- 


42  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

light,  a  steamer  was  taken  on  the  Tennessee  and 
Pittsburg  Landing  was  reached  before  dark. 

The  great  battle  was  over;  the  reverses  of  the  first 
day  had  been  cancelled  by  the  successes  of  the  sec- 
ond. The  weary  were  resting  and  the  wounded  were 
dying.  Decked  with  her  cross  of  mercy,  Lema  was  on 
the  awful  field  just  as  the  gloom  of  night  began  to 
gather  in  about  the  twenty  thousand  human  beings 
who  lay  dead,  dying  and  mangled  on  the  damp 
ground,  or  scattered  bleeding  among  the  trees  and  the 
bushes,  along  the  little  rivulets,  in  the  furrows  of  the 
old  fields,  on  the  plankless  floors  of  cabins  and  hos- 
pital tents,  which  stood  ghost-like  in  the  dusk.  She 
was  sent,  on  foot,  a  half  mile  away,  to  Shiloh  Church, 
which  was  full  of  the  wounded  of  both  sides.  The 
soles  of  her  shoes  were  wet  with  blood,  and  the  hem 
of  her  dress  was  reddened,  as  she  entered  and  beheld 
a  sickening  sight.  It  was  her  first  experience.  She 
grew  sick,  her  nerves  seemed  about  to  give  way  and 
her  fortitude  ready  to  desert.  A  little  camphor  to 
the  nose,  a  brave  rally,  and,  seizing  bandages  and 
lint,  she,  heroically,  joined  the  heavy-bearded  doc- 
tors, who  were  amputating  and  binding  in  a  most 
business-like  way. 

She  labored  and  sorrowed  all  night,  but,  when  the 
violets  of  light  opened  in  the  east,  the  long  lashes 
rested  upon  her  cheeks  and  the  weary  eyes  were 
closed. 


VI. 

LEMA  SAYR  was  of  good  old  New  England  stock. 
On  the  paternal  side,  lawyers,  statesmen  and 
soldiers  graced  her  ancestral  line  back  to  the  emerg- 
ence of  Massachusetts  from  the  barbaric  darkness  of 
North  America.  The  maternal  kindred  gave  scholars 
to  learning,  divines  to  the  pulpit  and  virtue  to  the 
hearthstone.  The  writer  dares  not  descend  into 
many  particulars  of  a  life  too  sacred  to  permit  the 
revelation  of  its  sad  facts  and  starved  aspirations  to 
the  curiosity  of  a  critical  world  or  to  open  its  pathos 
to  the  tenderness  of  the  good  reader's  heart.  Her 
pure  heart  had  lost  its  first  ideal,  but  she  had  borne 
her  calamity  with  the  grace  of  the  triumphant  brave. 
She  had  early  learned  the  deep  truths  and  inexplica- 
ble misery  of  first  love.  Thence  her  sympathy,  wise, 
deep  and  tender,  went  forth,  making  itself  a  part  of 
the  disappointments  of  others.  Often  the  wreck  of 
her  ideal,  prone  in  the  dust,  had  lain  before  her  eyes 
and  fain  she  would  have  lifted  the  diamond  that  still 
glittered  even  there,  but,  alas !  she  could  only  pity, 
she  was  powerless  to  save.  Too  proud  to  wear  the 
willow,  she  lifted  up  her  head,  and,  smiling  upon  the 
dejection  of  her  own  heart,  began  to  plant  roses  in. 
the  fields  of  human  trouble.     She  pushed  the  past 

43 


44  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

behind  her  and  faced  the  future.  With  white  feet, 
she  trode  its  winding  way,  and,  with  clean  hands, 
ministered  to  the  distressed. 

The  first  sacrifices  of  the  work  of  her  hands  were  to 
her  mother,  left  penniless  by  the  premature  death  of 
her  father.  The  cruel  change  of  fortune  scarred  her 
pride;  the  alternate  follies  of  the  first  man  whom  she 
trusted  and  who  appeared  perfect '  in  her  sight  had 
rudely  disturbed  the  sweet  confidence  of  life  which 
lives  in  the  morning  of  every  human  existence.  Her 
soul  was  early  starved  like  an  innocent  lamb  in 
parched  pastures.  But  the  wisdom  of  unhappiness 
was  hers.  The  tenderness  of  misery  was  ever  pres- 
ent in  her  heart.  Joy,  of  which  she  was  deprived, 
was  transferred  to  others.  She  knew  that  the  power 
of  joy  belonged  to  her;  that  though  she  could  not  fill 
her  own  soul  with  it,  she  could  shower  its  blessings 
upon  another.  A  spirit  can  be  deprived  of  joy,  but 
not  of  the  power  of  giving  joy!  If  it  be  more  blessed 
to  give  than  to  receive,  we  know  why  the  unhappy 
can  create  the  qualities  of  heaven  itself. 

Later  in  life,  while  studying,  by  these  lights,  the 
life  of  another,  she  fancied  that  she  saw  pearls  of 
great  price  in  the  depths  of  its  stormy  sea.  Unwit- 
tingly she  sought  to  raise  these  pearls  by  words, 
they  were  of  faith  and  sympathy,  possibly  of  admi- 
ration, but,  instead,  she  stirred  its  deepest  depths 
with  an  uncontrollable  gale  of  passion.  Brimming 
full,  that  passion  flooded  its  shores  and  drowned  his 
happiness.  Sadly  she  weighed  her  deed,  as  she 
weighed  all  other  things,  and,  by  sacrifice,  her  favor- 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  45 

ite  means  to  attain  the  ends  of  life,  tried  to  restore 
the  virtue  she  thought  he  had  lost,  but,  in  her  well- 
meant  effort,  broke  his  heart  to  fragments.  She  be- 
lieved the  ruin  wrought  by  her  was  for  good  and 
complacently  gazed  upon  it  until  her  mind  saw  its 
terrible  mistake  and  then  remorse  overwhelmed  her 
sensitive  nature.  Seeking  to  right  the  wrong  she 
had  committed,  her  heart  became  enthralled  and  a 
double  misery  seemed  to  weigh  her  down.  He,  whom 
she  strove  to  assist,  languished  as  other  beings  be- 
reft of  joy  had  languished  and  two  lives  alternately 
starved  and  flourished  Tipon  this  new  adversity.  She 
sorrowed  over  the  loss  of  his  happiness  as  bitterly  as 
Rachael  wept  for  her  children  that  were  not  and  pon- 
dered of  the  burden  she  had  added  to  his  life. 
Thenceforward,  she  thought  of  the  existence  of  sin; 
of  how  to  lift  up  the  fallen;  of  the  strength  of  the 
wicked;  of  the  weakness  of  the  weak,  and  prayed  for 
the  betterment  of  all  conditions.  Her  heart  trembled 
with  the  candor  of  childhood  at  the  possibility  of  los- 
ing a  friend,  yet  a  masculine  purpose  dominated  her 
mind.  She  was  a  woman,  however,  whose  bosom 
held  a  woman's  faithful  heart.  She  consecrated  it  to 
trouble  and  cultivated  its  indestructible  power  of  con- 
ferring happiness  upon  others,  while  the  masculine 
tendency  of  her  mind  pointed  them  to  duty  or  sug- 
gested the  triumphs  of  ambition.  She  had  studied 
the  humanities  more  wisely  than  she  knew.  By  toil, 
sacrifice  and  economy  she  had  made  the  New  Eng- 
land home  comfortable,  freed  it  from  debt  and  chased 
the  spectre  of  want  from  its  doors.     Then  the  great,. 


46  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

rude  war,  with  its  deluge  of  blood,  broke  upon  her 
country,  and,  as  a  dream  in  the  night,  she  disap- 
peared from  the  quaint  old  gables,  the  maple -lined 
walks,  from  hearth  and  home,  leaving  behind,  like 
a  ship  in  the  sea,  no  trace  of  the  way  she  had  chosen 
to  sail  "o'er  life's  solemn  main." 

She  sought  the  field  of  war,  the  couch  of  suffering, 
the  forlorn  and  shipwrecked,  indeed.  The  first  sight 
of  the  field  of  Shiloh  made  her  turn  pale  and  repeat, 
with  deep  pathos,  the  lines  of  poor,  heart- sore  Rob- 
bie Burns:  "Man's  inhumanity  to  man  makes  count- 
less thousands  mourn. "  The  hideous  spectacle,  the 
red  bandage,  the  knife,  the  needle,  the  saw,  the 
bloody  earth,  stood  in  gory  reality  before  her  fever- 
ish mind  as  she  slept  and  dreamt  amongst  the  bloody 
cots  of  Shiloh's  little  church.  Next  night,  exhaust- 
ed, she  had  fallen  into  a  restless  sleep.  Suddenly 
the  deep  groans  of  a  wounded  Confederate,  who  was 
being  placed. under  the  surgeon's  knife,  sounded  in 
her  ear,  and,  half  awake,  she  sprang  to  her  feet  and 
cried,  ''Don't  cut  off  my  arms,"  just  at  the  moment 
he  was  murmuring,  "Don't  cut  off  my  arms,"  and 
the  chloroform  was  subduing  his  senses.  It  was 
half  delirium,  half  reality.  She  saw  his  open  face, 
gray  uniform,  and  was  at  his  side.  Stretching  out 
her  hand  to  touch  him,  as  if  to  make  sure  it  were  all 
reality,  it  fell  upon  a  rent  in  the  sleeve  of  the  gray 
coat  that  hung  from  the  cot.  She  raised  the  bloody 
shreds  into  which  the  bullets  had  torn  it  and  looked 
a,t  them  feelingly;  she  looked  at  his  yellow-red  hair 
^nd  thought  of  the  picture  of  Cortez  in  the  rotunda 
of  the  Republic's  Capitol. 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  47 

His  forehead  was  white  and  the  struggling  circu- 
lation which  sent  fitful  flushes  to  his  cheeks  made  it 
look  whiter.  The  lips  were  apart  and  dry,  the  outer 
skin  parched,  but  the  carnationed  flesh  could  be  seen 
beneath.  The  breath  was  short  and  quick.  The 
liquid  black  eyes  were  glazed.  The  shadow  of  death 
seemed  to  be  creeping  over  him.  The  cheeks  were 
pinched  by  suffering.  The  lacerated  arm  and  its  long, 
shapely  fingers,  with  no  blood  in  them,  lay  still  upon 
the  couch.  A  bullet  had  rent  the  muscles  of  the 
upper  right  arm  and  torn  through  the  muscles  of  the 
back,  breaking  a  rib  in  its  wicked  passage.  The  left 
hand  was  fearfully  mangled  by  a  minnie  ball.  The 
doctors  were  painfully  adj  usting  those  brave  arms, 
resistless  and  senseless  now,  for  the  cruel  knife. 
Lema  Sayr's  mind  whirled,  circling  brain  and  thought. 

She  was  upon  her  knees  beside  the  cot!  begging 
the  doctors  not  to  main  so  splendid  a  being.  She 
said :  '  'He  is  too  young  to  be  made  a  cripple  of  for- 
ever. I  will  nurse  him  to  life  and  health.  I  know  I 
can  do  it!" 

The  doctors,  looking  curiously  at  each  other, 
walked  off  into  a  corner  of  the  little  church  and 
talked  together.  They  said  something,  but,  what, 
no  one  knew.  She  thought  it  was  about  humanity, 
they  looked  so  serious  and  so  kind.  They  came  back 
and  probed  his  wounds. 

"No  bones,  save  one  of  the  index  finger  and  a  frac- 
tured rib,  are  injured,"  said  one. 

She  looked  into  their  faces.  The  probing  was 
done,  the  splintered  rib  was  freed  from  its  fragments 


48  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

and  the  arm  and  hand  skillfully  dressed  and  band- 
aged. It  was  over!  and  the  doctors  said,  "Let  her 
take  charge  of  him,"  and  they  went  on  with  their 
work,  taking  the  chloroform  but  leaving  restora- 
tives. 

Thursday  morning  he  was  feeling  better.  The 
shock  passing  away,  he  began  to  take  notice  of  the 
persons  who  seemed  so  seriously  busy  in  the  little 
church. 

At  last  his  soft  dark  eyes  ceased  to  wander  over 
the  results  of  Shiloh's  tragedy,  whose  agonies  were 
epitomized  in  that  little  church.  Fixing  his  weak 
and  weary  gaze  upon  her  face,  he  struggled  to  speak. 
His  words  seemed  to  flow  and  murmur.  To  catch  his 
articulations,  she  bent  low  and  caught  the  words,. 
"Who  are  you?"  spoken  in  feeble  tones  which  re- 
minded one  of  the  touch  of  deftest  fingers  on  muffled 
instruments. 

"Who  am  I?"  she  repeated,  softly. 

"Yes,"  he  whispered  almost  with  a  gasp. 

*  'Only  a  nurse  assigned  to  wait  upon  you  until  you 
are  well,"  was  the  reply  filled  with  tenderness  like 
unto  love's  preparatory  mood. 

These  words  faintly  softened  his  features,  for  his 
gratitude  was  touched,  and  that  manly  courtesy, 
which  marks  the  bearing  of  Southern  men,  quietly 
made  its  appearance  in  his  wan,  smooth  face.  He 
was  trying  to  speak,  when  she  looked  deep  into  his 
eyes  and  laid  her  shapely  fingers  upon  her  lips;  he 
saw  the  hand  and  lower  arm  as  the  loose  sleeve 
slipped  toward  the  elbow  and  Joel  Hart's  genius. 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  49 

^vhich  made  marble  speak,  crossed  his  dimmed 
recollection,  but,  before  nature  and  art  could  coin 
words  into  thanks  or  compliments,  she  was  gone  to 
fetch  the  rich  red  wine  to  strengthen  his  weak  strug- 
gles to  be  better.  She  made  him  drink  of  it  and  for- 
bade him  to  talk.  He  could  not  understand  quite 
clearly  all  she  was  doing  or  why  she  was  there. 

Reader,  if  you  never  had  a  minnie  ball  tear  through 
your  muscles  and  splinter  your  bones  it  will  be  hard 
for  you  to  analyze  the  hazy  mind,  the  benumbed  feel- 
ings and  clouded  condition  of  this  wounded  Confed- 
erate. 

Closing  his  eyes  upon  the  weird  aspect  of  things 
and  people  around,  he  saw  mental  pictures,  which  the 
heart  helps  to  make  as  long  as  it  can  beat,  of  sweet 
home  scenes,  in  the  midst  of  which  stood  his  sisters 
speaking  to  him,  laughing,  flushing  all  with  smiles, 
amiability  and  tenderness.  He  saw  the  face  of  his 
anxious  old  mother.  At  a  distance,  among  the  sugar 
trees,  standing  deep  in  the  bluegrass,  he  saw  his 
father  with  upturned  face  looking  into  the  branches 
where  the  bursting  melody  of  a  mocking  bird's  almost 
human  song  flooded  the  odor-laden  air.  Quail  whis- 
tled from  the  hedge  fence  and  black  plowmen  clucked 
to  lazy  mules  in  the  sunny  furrow. 

Under  the  sweet  influences  of  illusion's  creations 
which  the  mind,  for  the  priceless  purpose  of  happi- 
ness, can  enjoy  until  overthrown,  and  from  the  ex- 
hilirating  effects  of  Lema  Sayr's  wine  he  fell  asleep 
and  slept  for  an  hour;  then  quick,  nervous  jerks,  as 
if  catching  at  something  to  keep  from  falling,  dis- 


50  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

turbed  his  sleep,  and  the  piteous  moans  which  he 
made  told  of  the  struggle  within  and  of  the  work  of 
cruel  wounds.  This  wounded  heroic  man  in  uneasy 
slumber  increased  the  current  of  sympathy  flowing 
in  her  heart.  As  he  slept  she  watched  each  painful 
line  tracing  itself  upon  his  face  until  she  suffered 
torture  unspeakable.  Now  the  drawn  features  would 
smooth  out  their  wretched  wrinkles,  and  then  the 
pale  face  would  break  up  its  rigidness.  The  light  of 
the  April  sun  streaming  through  the  window  from 
the  west,  blending  its  golden  hues  with  his  white 
cheeks  and  bright  hair  and  disclosing  the  strong  lines 
of  sufferiijg  in  other  faces,  filled  the  little  church 
with  awe  and  mystery  and  laid  bare  the  progress  of 
the  grim  reaper. 

The  blessings  of  quiet  seemed  to  slip  into  his  face 
between  the  ridged  lines  of  pain  and  contracted  mus- 
cles. She  studied  the  varying  features  and  watched 
for  the  returns  of  exorbitant  pain  to  collect  its  terri- 
ble tribute  and  write  its  broken  and  its  curved  lines 
upon  the  face  of  the  sufferer.  Her  agonized  heart 
abated  its  beats  when  she  saw  them  coming.  At  in- 
tervals, when  the  wrinkles  and  writhing  lines  disap- 
peared, she  went  to  other  cots  and  did  many  things 
ior  the  wounded  dressed  in  blue.  She  spoke  to  them 
words  which  were  as  good  as  deeds.  Her  ear  was 
alert  to  the  slightest  sound  from  the  cot  of  the  gray 
Confederate,  and  often  she  hurried  back  to  him  with 
trepidation,  tenderness  and  fear  accentuating  every 
look  and  movement,  until  assured  that  the  restless- 
ness was  the  assertion  of  returning  strength,  which 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  51 

began  to  manifest  itself  more  and  more  as  the  pre- 
cious hours  flew  by. 

For  several  days  he  grew  stronger,  and,  as  the  re- 
action became  more  potent,  began  to  look  at  her  fre- 
quently, and  sometimes  intently. 

One  day,  about  a  week  after  the  battle,  he  looked 
at  her  so  wistfully  that  she  felt  she  was  bound  to 
speak  to  him  and  test  his  condition.  His  liquid  black 
eyes  seemed  to  be  brighter,  or,  rather,  not  so  dull, 
and,  though  forbidden  to  speak  or  exert  himself,  his 
look  spoke,  and  she  concluded  that  a  quiet  conversa- 
tion might  be  for  his  betterment. , 

"What  makes  you  look  at  me  so  hard?  Do  you 
know  where  you  are,  or  what  has  happened?" 

He  flared  up  and  struggled  to  rise,  but  fell  back 
and  asked,  with  some  vigor,  "Did  General  Johnston 
win  the  battle?" 

"No,  he  lost  it  and  was  killed." 

A  terrible  exclamation  escaped  his  lips,  and  the 
effort  exhausted  the  little  rally  he  had  made.  Great 
lines  of  torture  crossed  his  brow  and  heavy  gloom 
settled  on  his  face.  She  was  greatly  excited  and 
very  unhappy  at  the  result.  She  gave  him  a  sedative 
and  a  little  wine  and  water  to  strengthen.  The  ex- 
haustion, the  sedative  and  the  wine  invited  sleep,  and 
it  came,  as  it  so  often  comes,  the  only  friend. to  mis- 
ery and  misfortune.  "With  the  hideous  picture  of  his 
dead  chieftain  before  his  mind's  eye,  he  dropped  into 
an  uneasy,  but  strong-breathing  sleep.  He  cried  out 
more  than  once,   "Charge  and  avenge — " 

She  knew  what  he  meant,  and  pity  akin '  to  love 
filled  her  heart. 


VII. 

THE  first  May  morning  of  the  dreadful  year  '62 
opened  upon  full-blown  flowers  smiling  on  the 
graves  of  the  fallen;  upon  woods,  deep,  shadowy  and 
restless,  which  whispered  to  the  breeze;  and  shone 
brightly  upon  the  blood-stained  floor  of  Shiloh's 
church  and  its  white  cots,  from  which  had  risen,  con- 
valescent, gallant  forms  dressed  in  blue  or  clad  in 
gray. 

"Miss  Sayr,"  said  her  wounded  rebel,  as  she  had 
once  called  him,  "I  do  wish  you  would  go  walking 
with  m6  this  sweet  May  morning." 

"Do  you  think  you  are  strong  enough  to  walk?" 

"Oh,  yes,"  said  he. 

After  carefully  descending  the  steps  of  the  church, 
they  looked  about  a  little  before  deciding  which  way 
to  go.  They  concluded  to  go  toward  the  '  'Hornet's 
Nest, "  so  named  from  the  hot  resistance  at  that  point 
made  by  the  Union  troops  to  the  headlong  assaults  of 
the  Confederate  Legions.  Coming  to  the  place  where 
McClernand  made  his  bold  stand  to  keep  the  Union 
Army  from  being  driven  and  wedged  into  the  angle 
formed  by  Snake  Creek  and  the  Tennessee  they  sat 
down  on  a  moss-covered  trunk  to  rest. 

To  their  left  were  the  overflowed  bottoms  of  Owl 

52 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  53 

Creek,  which  is  but  another  name  for  the  upper  part 
of  Snake  Creek,  In  their  front  heavy-leaved  trees 
bent  and  nodded  to  each  other,  where  Sherman  made 
his  final  determined  stand,  thrusting  his  sharp  salient 
into  the  woods  through  which  the  victorious  Confed- 
erates, with  faultless  valor,  were  charging;  while  Ben 
Hur,  vascillating  around  on  the  River  Road,  was  be- 
yond Snake  Creek,  jockeying  for  a  good  start  as  if 
beginning  that  chariot  race  which  he  afterwards  won 
on  paper.  His  doubt  whether  to  go  to  Purdy,  Pitts- 
burg or  Purgatory,  dissipated  his  decision  amidst  the 
roar  of  the  cannon  and  the  shouting.  Go  to,  Ben 
Hur!  On  the  other  side  of  the  creek,  where  there 
were  no  rebels,  you  were  dreaming  of  the  Prince  of 
India,  perhaps  of  Indianians;  but  generous  old  Ulys- 
sus  forgave  you,  and  so  do  the  surviving  Confed- 
erates, for  a  better  reason. 

All  around  them  were  long  mounds  of  new  earth 
stretching  here  under  the  trees,  and  there  in  open 
fields.  Numerous  graves  heaved  their  solemn  bosoms 
toward  the  pitying  sky.  Farther  away,  to  their  right 
and  rear,  the  heavy  woods  whispered  of  Prentiss' 
surrender.  The  whole  scene  was  pervaded  by  the 
highest  and  gloomiest  tragedy  of  that  bloody  drama 
— Albert  Sydney  Johnston's  death,  just  as  his  iron 
grasp  was  closing  upon  assured  victory. 

Occasionally  Lema  looked  at  her  wounded  com- 
panion to  see  how  these  scenes  affected  him.  She 
had  given  him  a  little  wine  as  a  tonic,  and  it  and  the 
fresh  air  made  him  feel  more  buoyant  than  he  had 
since  he  was  wounded.     She  was  afraid  to  talk  to 


K 


54  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

him  of  the  details  of  the  battle  which  had  become  as 
well  known  at  Shiloh's  Church  as  the  overt  sins  of 
any  of  its  members  who  may  have  furnished  food  for 
its  dead  gossips.  She  sought  to  keep  his  mind  occu- 
pied and  his  feelings  quiet.  Birds  flitted  about,  the 
flowers  were  gay,  spring  filtered  into  his  being 
and  fortitude  and  hope  united  to  revive  his  spirits. 
Her  eyes  sadly  surveyed  the  life  in  death  around 
them.  The  old  moss-grown  trunk  on  which  they 
sat,  the  moldering  heaps  of  slain  lying  beneath 
the  growing  turf,  the  awful  thought  of  the  struggle 
which  cost  so  many  precious  lives,  crowded  from  her 
memory  all  else  for  the  time.  Even  the  dear  mem- 
ories of  home  were  lost  to  mind,  and  her  soul,  bound 
with  hoops  of  steel  in  unexpressed  and  inexpressible 
mystery  to  the  destiny  of  her  country,  was  there  re- 
dedicated  to  its  service.  Yet  from  this  sacred  revery 
she  snatched  a  sympathy  for  the  wounded  soldier 
who  sat  by  her  side,  a  stranger,  a  prisoner,  and,  in 
her  estimation,  a  rebel. 

They  were  each  communing,  in  the  same  spirit, 
with  the  surroundings;  each  was  enfolding  the  other 
in  that  all-embracing  sympathy  and  distress  of  mind 
which  cannot  exist  without  a  real  personality  to  sup- 
port it.  Such  conditions  of  mind  and  heart,  sorrow- 
ing over  the  dead  and  the  irreversible,  reach  out,  as 
tender  vines  seeking  the  oak,  and  twine  themselves 
about  the  living  for  support  and  life.  The  misery 
which  springs  from  mental  distress  and  finds  sweet 
solace  in  its  occult  blendings  with  the  feelings  of  a  liv- 
ing, beating  human  heart,  has  never  been  fathomed 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  55 

nor  described,  and  can  never  be,  though  human  ex- 
perience and  philosophy  were  to  unite  and  touch 
the  dark  secrets  of  the  unknown. 

'  'I  have  not  been  inquisitive,  as  Yankees  usually 
are,  else  I  would  have  known  your  name  long  ago,  '* 
said  she,  withdrawing  her  eyes  from  the  deep  foliage 
that  embowered  the  '  'Hornet's  Nest, "  as  if  it  were  now 
a  young  bird's  nest,  and  looking  inquiringly  into  his 
languid  face. 

"My  name  is  Robert  Hope,"  said  he,  "if  you  care 
enough  to  know." 

Blushing  from  the  curves  of  the  beautiful  chin  up 
to  the  very  lashes  of  her  blue  eyes  because  he  had 
laid  stress  on  the  word,  care,  Lema  bowed  her  thanks 
for  the  favor  of  his  name  and  nervously  picked 
bunches  of  moss  from  the  fallen  tree  trunk  and  threw 
them  on  the  ground  to  which  her  eyes  had  fallen. 
Her  heart  fluttered  like  two  little  birds  which  were 
twittering  and  billing  in  a  stately  elm  that  shaded  a 
long  and  mournful  looking  mound  that  lay  a  few 
paces  to  their  right.  She  was  taken  unawares  by  his 
heavy  and  tender  emphasis  upon  the  word,  care,  and 
her  hitherto  dormant  and  unformed  feehngs  flew  to 
her  cheeks  before  she  could  analyze  them.  Her  self- 
possession  seemed  to  have  been  assaulted  by  a  hidden 
enemy  and  for  just  a  moment  all  knowledge  of  self 
forsook  her.  She  could  not  divine  the  volatility  of 
her  emotions  until  she  thought  of  the  overwork  of 
the  last  three  weeks  and  the  constant  strain  on  her 
nerves. 

Summoning  her  fortitude,  she  made  another  effort 


56  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

to  know  something  of  this  brave  man,  enlisted  in  a 
bad  cause,  as  she  believed.  But  her  voice  quavered, 
in  spite  of  her  fixed  purpose  to  be  self -poised,  as  she 
said,  "I  believe  I  am  feverish  or  nervous. "  Pausing 
a  moment,  she  added,  '  'I  should  like  to  know  where 
your  home  is  and  something  of  the  antecedents  which 
must  have  influenced  you  to  fight  against  your  coun- 
try. Tell  me.  It  will  be  good  to  while  away  the 
time,  as  verbal  autobiography  is  better  than  written, 
for  the  reason  that  you  can  afterwards  omit  the  vani- 
ty without  leaving  the  record  behind." 

"Before  I  comply  with  your  request,  madam,  you 
will  permit  me  to  say  that  I  am  fighting /or  my  coun- 
try and  there  is  nothing  in  my  life  which  would 
justify  vanity." 

"Ah;  well,  never  mind  what  I  said  about  vanity; 
that  was  but  a  humor  and  we  will  not  quarrel  about 
what  you  consider  your  country,  but  agree  that  you 
are  only  trying  to  tear  oif  one  wing  of  the  American 
Eagle." 

"I  wish  I  could  wring  his  neck,"  said  he  petulantly. 

She  looked  at  him  impatiently  for  an  instant  and 
burst  into  a  subdued  laugh  at  the  poor  fellow's  peev- 
ish desire  to  wring  off  the  head  of  the  proud  bird  of 
liberty.  She  laughed  until  he  began  to  smile  and 
finally  to  laugh  too. 

In  the  midst  of  the  humor  which  had  taken  the  place 
of  far  different  feelings,  she  said,  "Don't  wring  the 
eagle's  neck  to-day,  but  tell  me  where  your  home  is." 

"It  is  in  Kentucky,  Woodford  County." 

"O  yes,"  said  she,  "I've  read  something  about  it, 
and  Bourbon  County  too,  in  Uncle  Tom's  Cabin." 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  57 

'  'Yes,  that  monstrous  exaggeration  has  some  refer- 
ence to  it, "  was  his  reply. 

"There  it  is  again;  wait  until  you  get  well  enough 
and  then  I'll  give  you  a  peaceable  quarrel  over  that 
book  and  the  eagle  too,"  softly  said  this  loyal  New 
England  woman  to  whom  he  owed  his  life,  for  he  had 
died  without  her  vigilance,  care  and  practical  sense. 

"I  beg  your  pardon,"  said  he,  "for  my  rudeness. 
It  was  inexcusable,  but  I  am  not  myself.  Will  you 
forgive  me?" 

'  'You  have  committed  no  intentional  offense,  I  see, 
else  you  would  not  have  asked  pardon  so  quickly.  It 
is  granted,  provided  you  will  not  demolish  the  eagle 
until  you  get  well  and  are  exchanged." 

"Exchanged!  I  was  thinking  of  escaping!"  said 
he,  as  they  arose  to  their  feet. 

Lema's  face  turned  white,  and,  in  a  voice  which 
was  naturally  persuasive,  but  trembling  then  with  a 
new  power,  she  said,  "Would  you  escape  now  and  let 
me  return  to  the  church  suspected  of  aiding  you?  It 
would  break  my  heart " 

Interrupting  her,  he  said,  '  'I  would  die  in  prison 
before  I  would  do  such  a  thing;  the  thought  dishon- 
ors me.  I  was  thinking  only  of  what  all  prisoners 
think  and  spoke  from  impulse. " 

"But  you  frightened  me  so  much!  by  using  the 
past  tense  in  a  present  sense,"  replied  she,  "that  I 
lost  my  self-possession,  seeing  that  you  had  an  op- 
portunity, here  in  this  thick  woods,  to  escape." 

He  sought,  by  sly  humor  at  her  expense,  to  laugh 
away  her   suspicions    and    restore   the   confidential 


58  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

armistice  which  had  existed  all  along  between  them. 

"My  position  would  be  a  very  hard  one  in  the  event 
of  your  escape  while  in  my  charge," 

"Oh,  calm  your  unfounded  suspicions;  I  would  do 
nothing  to  compromise  you,  not  even  for  the  pleasure 
of  wringing  the  eagle's  neck,"  said  he. 

Then  she  laughed  an  indescribable  laugh,  one 
which  touches  the  heart,  and  begged  his  pardon  for 
misjudging  his  manhood. 

They  walked  slowly  back  toward  the  little  church 
but  made  a  long  detour  to  the  left,  tracing,  in  their 
route,  an  acute  angle  near  the  center  of  the  Con- 
federate right  where  Johnston  fell  and  John  C. 
Breckinridge  led  Kentucky's  matchless  Confederates 
in  the  final  charge  which  broke  the  Union  left  into 
flying  fragments. 

O  then  for  another  hour  of  the  Confederate  chief- 
tain's precious  life !  But  new  history,  strange  fames, 
a  new  map  of  America,  would  have  been  written;  our 
country  divided;  the  ills  of  frequent  wars  transmit- 
ted to  our  children  and  the  date  of  Liberty's  death 
anticipated  by  centuries. 

As  they  gazed  at  the  woods  and  the  old  fields,  list- 
ened to  the  breezes  in  the  branches,  heard  the  songs 
of  the  birds  flying  about  in  the  overhanging  boughs 
and  felt  the  power  of  the  gentle  circumstances  of 
peace,  a  deep  feeling  of  introspection  took  posses- 
sion of  their  hearts,  and,  in  silence,  they  threaded 
their  way  back  to  the  church. 

As  with  the  lantern  of  Diogenes,  Lema  tried  to 
search  the  bottom  of  her  heart,  but  its  gloom  shut 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  59 

out  the  light  from  its  depths  and  left  her  deeply- 
doubting  the  capacity  of  any  mortal  to  solve  the 
problem,  "Know  thyself."  She  considered  of  her 
duty  to  her  country  and  thought  of  nature's  law 
which  plants  in  every  bosom  hostility  to  spies,  to  in- 
formers and  the  treacherous,  concluding  she  was  not 
bound,  by  any  principle  of  patriotism,  to  become  an 
informer  against  Robert  Hope  and  report  the  possi- 
bility of  an  attempt  on  his  part  to  escape. 

Next  morning,  the  few  wounded  Confederates  that 
remained  at  Shiloh's  church  were  sent  off  to  Paducah, 
thence  to  go  north  for  confinement  in  prison  as  fast 
as  their  condition  should  allow.  She  had  done  some- 
thing for  every  one  placed  in  the  little  church,  and, 
when  each  gallant  Confederate  bade  her  good-bye, 
each  had  a  lump  in  his  throat  and  a  tear  on  his  eye- 
lashes, while  his  tongue  said  something  about  '  'Lema 
Sayr,  the  friend  of  humanity." 

Robert  Hope  was  the  last  to  shake  hands.  A  gen- 
tle pressure  of  the  hand,  a  short,  solicitous  look, 
deep  and  tender,  from  one  was  returned  by  the  eyes 
of  the  other — he  was  gone. 

After  their  departure,  she  sat  down  by  a  window 
of  the  little  church  and  placed  her  hands  upon  her 
heart  for  a  little  while  as  if  she  were  pressing  into 
manageable  bulk  the  Jove  of  humanity  which  filled 
her  bosom  and  weighed  heavily  upon  her  soul. 

She  arose  very  soon  and  sought  the  surgeon  and 
asked  if  she  could  serve  to  advantage  here  any  long- 
er, and,  if  not,  to  be  assigned  a  new  field  of  labor. 

"Well,"  said  he,  slyly,  "we  will  send  you  to  Nash- 


60  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

ville  to  wait  upon  Union  soldiers  alone,  for  these 
rebels  are  too  courteous  to  ladies." 

"Now,  Doctor!  I  have  only  tried  to  be  good  to 
everybody." 

The  Doctor,  seeing  he  was  about  to  annoy  her, 
soberly  said,  "That's  so,  and  I  will  give  you  a  good 
place,  as  good  as  we  have. " 


VIII. 

THE  dawn  awoke  a  deer-bird  that  had  slept  in  the 
branches  of  a  mighty  beech  which  shaded  the 
deer-blind.  His  first  notes  heralding  the  day  broke 
the  soft  slumbers  of  a  neighboring  red-breast,  which, 
opening  its  eyes  upon  the  white  lances  of  the  new 
morning,  poured  forth  sweet  anthems  to  the  day's 
nativity.  A  still  more  pretentious  songster  joined  in 
with  phrasing  trills  and  flute-like  strains  that  made 
the  forest  vibrant  with  tunes,  the  sweetest  ever  heard. 
Hundreds  of  feathered  throats  began  to  sing,  and, 
before  the  light  in  the  east  had  lanced  the  heavens  to 
the  meridian  their  leafy  housing  was  filled  with  in- 
cessant melodies.  The  transcendant  music  flooded 
the  woods  and  dark  ravines  with  wondrous  joy  and 
floated  into  the  ears  of  the  dull  and  dreamy  being 
lying  motionless  upon  a  mossy  bank  beneath.  The 
gentle  wind  streamed  through  the  branches  of  the 
trees  and  softly  swept  the  wild  flowers  to  the  music 
of  the  birds. 

"Colonel"  Patter  caught  the  deer-bird's  primal 
warning  of  breaking  day,  and,  as  the  swelling  lays 
increased,  steeping  his  senses  with  entrancing  sounds, 
he  reclosed  his  eyes  and  listened  to  nature's  untaught 
musicians.  And  while  eaves-dropping  the  wild  birds 
he  soliloquized  of  treasons,  stratagems  and  spoils. 

61 


62  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

"My  patriotism  led  me  to  the  projecting  precipice 
of  alleged  treason,  from  whose  giddy  heights  ragged 
Revolution  peeped  through  every  rent  in  its  unlooped 
garments  with  suspicious  eye  and  marked  my  over- 
wrought zeal  for  its  victim.  Its  Robespierres  incar- 
cerated my  body  hitherto  sanctified  against  the  touch 
of  violence.  To  escape  their  blind  vengeance  I  out- 
witted the  guard,  fied  the  accursed  place  and  betook 
myself  to  the  wild  but  friendlier  woods  for  protec- 
tion. I  have  slept  in  lone  cabins  far  up  on  the  moun- 
tain side  and  hid  in  dark  ravines,  like  a  hunted  beast, 
tortured  by  terrors  and  anxieties  which  drove  cour- 
age from  every  extremity  of  my  once  proud  corporate 
self.  In  chill  November's  surly  blasts,  through  the 
falling  dead  leaves  of  the  shivering  forests,  to  avoid 
arrest  at  the  hands  of  my  wily  companion.  Fate  Wolf, 
whom  I  could  not  then  trust,  I  fled  from  this  very 
spot  over  which  now  hover  sweet  songs  and  fragrance - 
breathing  gales.  In  sequestered  cabin,  sheltering 
rock-house,  relying  at  times  upon  the  ravens  for 
food,  I  passed  the  last  long,  cold  winter,  which  froze 
the  genial  currents  of  revolution  into  the  thin  ichor 
of  strategy,  and  now  my  soul  is  fortified  for  spoil! 
Here,  in  this  enchanted  place,  I  dedicate  self  to  self 
and  abandon  the  vile  principle  of  destruction  for  the 
rich  dogma  of  self-preservation." 

He  arose  and,  throwing  his  head  back,  while  his 
countenance  bore  the  image  of  simulated  courage, 
hurled  from  his  throat  a  shout  of  defiance  that  rever- 
berated throughout  the  dark  ravine.  The  birds  ceased 
their  songs.     He  mounted  Long-Leaper  and  started 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  63 

to  Roan  for  the  purpose  of  surrendering  to  Penn 
Grabb6  and  trusting  to  his  clemency  and  afterward 
acting  with  the  non-combative  ranks  of  strategy. 
With  abated  crest  Long-Leaper,  resembling  Ros- 
inante,  bore  his  drooping  master  unheralded  into 
Roan. 

Penn  Grabb6  had  received  full  particulars  of  the 
fearful  tidings  from  Shiloh,  and  was  feelingly  relat- 
ing the  incidents  of  the  battle  to  Fate  Wolf. 

"Stop!"  shouted  the  latter,  whose  cunning  and 
coarse  humor  never  forsook  him,  "hyur  cums  'Col- 
onel' Patter,  the  eagle  orator  en  the  Owlsome  spy. 
I  know'd  he'd  drap  in  sumwhurs  with  news  frum  the 
rebel  camps  he's  bean  a  follerin'  all  last  fall  en  win- 
ter. Hit  wur  agreed  atwixt  us  that  he  wus  to  play 
spy  en  help  the  Union  all  he  mout  fur  the  way  the 
rebels  entreated  him." 

"Hi,  now,  what  news,  Patter?"  shouted  Penn 
Grabbe,  dropping  at  once  to  "Colonel"  Patter's  con- 
dition and  significantly  leaving  off  the  hitherto  proud 
fitting  title. 

"Grabb^,  the  miseries  through  which  I  have  passed 
never  forced  me  once  to  shed  a  tear,  but,  seeing  that 
you  strip  me  of  my  visionary  title  and  drop  into  that 
familiarity  which  means  contempt,  I  fear  that  you 
seek  to  vie  with  the  revolutionists — I  mean  the  rebels 
— to  humiliate  me  and  join  your  contempt  to  their 
suspicion  and  bloody  designs  which  I  narrowly  es- 
caped with  my  noble  friend,  Fate  Wolf. " 

Penn  Grabb6  laughed  immoderately  at  "Colonel" 
Patter's  shrewd  comparison  of  his  own  fall  to  that  of 


64  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

Cardinal  Wolsey,   and  then,   with  great  effect,    ad- 
dressed him  as  follows : 

' '  'Colonel'  Patter,  Job  says,  'Neither  let  me  give 
flattering  titles  unto  man,'  therefore,  I  charge  thee, 
fling  away  ambition.  Love  thyself  first,  cherish  those 
hearts  bent  on  spoil;  adopt  strategy,  for  it  wins  more 
than  raw  honesty." 

"Prithee  lead  me  in,"  said  "Colonel"  Patter,  and 
they  entered  the  tavern,  and  on  the  same  bar  counter 
he  had  laid  off  the  battlefield  of  Bull  Run  he  drew  a 
moving  diagram  of  evanescent  rebel  camps  and  said, 
"They  are  ragged,  starving,  sore-footed,  scarce  of 
arms,  but  mind  you,  gentlemen,  as  fightsome  as  wild 
tigers. " 

"That's  adzackly  so,  fur  it  tallers  with  the  Gaz- 
zytee  en  Enquirer  when  tuck  together,"  said  Fate 
Wolf. 

"Colonel"  Patter,  seeing  the  moment  was  fa- 
vorable, called  for  the  drinks  and  proposed  the  fol- 
lowing toast: 

"With  malice  to  nobody  and  amnesty  for  every- 
body." 

"That's  national  logic  on  a  peace  basis,"  said  Penn 
Grabb^,  a  touch  of  humor  in  his  tone. 

This  was  the  sentiment  Lincoln  afterwards  plagiar- 
ized for  his  second  Inaugural  address. 

They  drank  the  toast  with  hearty  good  will,  and 
"Colonel"  Patter  was  taken  into  full  fellowship.  The 
"Colonel"  was  requested  by  Penn  Grabb6  to  go  with 
Fate  Wolf  to  deliver  the  next  wagonload  of  recruits, 
and  aid  the  latter,  who  was  not  much  of  a  scholar,  ia 
settling  with  Major  Paymento. 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  65 

'  'If  it  will  not  be  necessary  to  bear  arms  or  wear  a 
blue  uniiorm  I'm  willing  to  accommodate  you  in  this 
matter.  But  you  know,  Grabbdi,  how  high -tempered 
the  revolutionists— I  mean  the  rebels — are,  and  that 
if  I  were  caught  by  them  with  one  of  Garret  Davis' 
Home  Guard  muskets  in  my  hands  or  a  Lincoln  uni- 
form on  my  back,  they  would  fly  into  flinders  and 
hold  me  to  that  Richmond  commission,  and  might 
proceed  to  extremities." 

"That  will  not  be  necessary.  You  can  go  along 
under  the  guise  of  a  peaceable  citizen  working  for 
the  Government,  but  not  fighting  for  it,"  said  Penn 
Grabb4. 

So  entirely  did  these  views  relieve  '  'Colonel"  Pat- 
ter's embarrassment  that  he  broke  out  talking  anew 
and  spread  his  compliments  us  usual,  closing  his 
utterances  as  follows: 

"You  and  Penn  Grabbe,  Fate  Wolf,  are  natural 
born  strategists,  and  destined  to  rise  high  in  the 
service  of  the  Government. " 


IX. 

THE  prisoners  on  the  steamboat  descending  the 
Tennessee  were  carefully  inspected.  When 
Paducah  was  reached,  many  who  had  expected  to  be 
put  off  at  that  point  were  declared  fit  for  prison  and 
detained  on  board.  They  were  uncertain  of  their  des- 
tination; but  when  the  steamer  circled  the  northeast 
apex  of  land  which  projects  into  the  mingling  waters 
of  the  Tennessee  and  Ohio  and  began  puffing  against 
the  current  of  the  latter,  they  knew  their  doom — 
Camp  Chase  or  Johnson's  Island. 

Robert  Hope  grew  gloomy  as  his  chances  of  escape 
diminished.  The  Falls  of  the  Ohio  were  in  sight; 
Louisville '  would  soon  be  reached  and  passed;  his 
spirits  were  drooping,  for,  once  on  Northern  soil,  he 
knew  that  a  prison's  privations,  amidst  the  cold 
blasts  of  its  winters,  were  almost  beyond  escape. 

He  feigned  to  be  worse  the  night  before,  and,  as 
the  boat  landed  at  the  foot  of  Fourth  street,  his 
constant  groans  and  pale  face  attracted  the  surgeon 
who  had  come  aboard  for  the  purpose  of  examining 
the  sick  and  wounded. 

The  Doctor,  at  the  first  professional  glance,  was 
accustomed  to  give  one  of  those  off-handed  opinions 
which  genius  prides  itself  in  being  able  to  give.    The 

66 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  67 

languid  looks  of  Robert  Hope  appealed  to  him  pow- 
erfully. 

The  first  clerk  of  the  steamer,  who  was  at  heart  a 
Southerner,  remarked,  '  'This  man  has  been  in  a  bad 
way  ever  since  we  left  Pittsburg  Landing." 

"Tut!  Tut!"  said  the  surgeon.  "A  doctor  with  a 
single  organ  of  sight  could  by  autopsy  alone  have 
discovered  this  man  was  suffering  from  marasmus. 
Send  him  on  shore  to  Ninth  and  Broadway  hospital. " 

"But,  Doctor,"  said  the  sergeant  in  charge  of  the 
prisoners,  "I  have  been  with  this  man  — " 

"Go  ahead  with  tJiis  ma^i, "  interrupted  the  surgeon, 
"we  have  no  time  to  listen  to  unprofessional  opin- 
ions." 

The  Hoosier  sergeant  shrank  back  abashed  at  his 
own  temerity  and  at  once  put  Robert  Hope  on  the 
wharfboat,  whence  he  was  carried  to  the  hospital  as 
the  diagnostician  had  directed.  The  sergeant  said  to 
himself,  as  the  boat  swung  from  the  landing,  '  'Of  all 
fools  an  educated  fool  is  the  most  absurd. " 

The  hospital  was  a  long  double  brick  of  three 
stories,  fronting  on  Broadway  but  breaking  off  in  the 
middle  to  two  stories  which  abutted  upon  an  alley  in 
the  rear  running  from  west  to  east.  Robert  Hope 
was  placed  upon  a  cot  which  might  have  been  whiter, 
but  for  air  and  breeze  it  could  not  have  been  located 
better.  It  was  in  a  small  back  room  in  the  third 
story,  and  was  placed  near  a  window  that  opened 
upon  the  rear  a  few  feet  above  the  roof  of  the  two 
story  portion  of  the  building.  Thence  one  could  see 
some  distance  northward  on  Ninth  street. 


68  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

At  that  season  Louisville  was,  as  it  is  now,  pic- 
turesque and  exceptionally  beautiful,  its  surface  re- 
minding one  of  the  ocean's  unbroken  bosom  as  it 
heaves,  when  the  winds  are  still,  to  the  ebbing  and 
flowing  of  the  undercurrent!  The  streets  at  right 
angles,  unlike  the  cowpath  crooks  of  Bos.ton,  are 
wide,  straight  and  cool.  They  cut  each  other  for 
miles  under  one  view  of  the  eye  looking  in  any  direc- 
tion. The  green-leafed  maples,  forest  trees  and 
shrubs  of  many  different  dyes  skirt  the  avenues  and 
grace  the  yards  of  commodious  homes  built  on  big 
plots  of  ground.  Gardens,  amidst  wold  of  wood  and 
flowers,  are  here  and  there  cultivated.  Travel  over 
its  area  of  twenty-four  square  miles  wherever  you 
may,  and  the  eye,  greeted  by  changing  colors  and 
gently  broken  beauties,  is  relieved  of  that  stony 
aspect  which  chills  the  heart  in  great  treeless  cities; 
the  ear  is  filled  with  the  twitter  or  songs  of  birds 
which  build  their  nests  in  the  shrubbery  of  the  yards 
and  on.  the  very  trees  of  the  streets.  The  murmur- 
ing falls,  the  great  canal,  deep,  dangerous  and  use- 
ful, break  the  smooth  river  which  fronts  the  city; 
and  the  wide  champaign  country,  covered  with  herds 
and  flocks,  stretching  away  east  and  southward,  adds 
its  pastoral  scenes  to  a  situation  inviting  and  his- 
toric. No  later  than  the  latter  half  of  the  last  cen- 
tury the  foot- fall  of  the  Indian  alone  was  heard  in 
deep  glade  and  shady  forests  where  now  flourishes 
the  ornament  of  the  once  dark  and  bloody  ground 
and  the  grace  of  the  quadrilateral. 

Southern  women  were  admitted  to  the  hospital  to 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  69 

wait  upon  Confederates  who  were  thought  to  be  very- 
sick.  They  were  allowed  to  furnish  others  with 
needles,  thread  and  tobacco,  but  with  nothing  which 
might  be  converted  into  a  bribe  of  doubtful  guards. 
All  doors  of  the  first  story  were  carefully  guarded; 
windows  were  slatted  on  the  outside  with  heavy 
pieces  nailed  to  the  frames,  and  pavement  and  alley 
adjoining  the  hospital  were  guarded  at  night. 

The  spirit  of  blood  and  persecution,  coupled  with 
the  baser  passion  of  speculation,  was  rampant.  The 
lovely  city,  full  to  overflowing  of  western  and  bor- 
der State  soldiery,  was  intensely  agitated  and 
alarmed.  The  notorious  "hog  order"  had  not  then 
been  issued  by  Jerry  Burr,  nor  the  arrest  of  females 
ordered  by  "Boil"  Bridges, — yet  the  grind  of  the 
iron  heel  was  upon  the  neck  of  Kentucky,  prostrate 
in  the  dust  of  indecision.  Contempt  for  her  people 
curled  upon  the  lips  of  reckless  soldiers,  while  rene- 
gades, old  underlings  and  new  faces,  lined  with  envy 
and  for  the  first  time  risen  to  importance,  were  snarl- 
ing at  the  prosperous,  the  decent  and  the  good,  in- 
forming upon  their  neighbors,  persecuting  women, 
arresting  old  men  and  longing  to  crown  confusion 
and  corruption  with  confiscation.  Danger  attended 
the  movements  of  every  citizen,  male  and  female,  and 
charity  and  kindness  to  "rebels,"  well  or  wounded, 
stood  for  overt  acts  of  treason. 

Robert  Hope  had  caught  the  current  of  events  from 
fragments  of  conversation  overheard  in  the  hospital, 
and  little  Lexie  Hallen,  who  was  admitted  to  wait 
upon  him,   told  him  a  good  deal  about  the  tyrant, 


70  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

Bridges,  nicknamed  "Boil"  because  he  was  constantly 
in  a  rage.  Instructions  were  issued  by  him  to  pro- 
vost guards,  a  kind  of  bashi-bazouk,  and  to  home 
guards,  a  sort  of  local  bushwhacker,  hitherto  un- 
known in  civilized  warfare,  directing  them  to  arrest 
all  ages,  sexes  and  conditions;  to  extort  false  oaths; 
to  bind  in  illegal  bonds  the  peaceable,  and,  finally,  to 
deter  from  duty  civil  officers  on  which  the  shaking 
remnants  of  social  order  depended.  The  "Instruc- 
tions" gave  "damages  and  compensation"  against 
peaceable  citizens  for  bridges  burned  and  railroads 
destroyed  by  "Morgan  and  his  men,"  whom  "Boil" 
Bridges  called  guerrillas.  They  also  forbade  free 
elections  and  were  afterwards  supplemented  by  the 
erection  of  a  prison  for  females,  who  were  required  to 
work  for  their  oppressors  from  morning  till  noon, 
from  noon  till  night.  Their  hands  were  too  tender 
for  the  coarse  needle  of  army  clothes,  and  with  bleed- 
ing fingers  and  drooping  spirits  they  sank  under  the 
gross  barbarity. 

Robert  Hope  had  told  Lexie  that  he  wanted  to  get 
away. 

The  child,  then  only  in  her  sixteenth  year,  turned 
pale  and  trembled  from  head  to  foot. 

The  brave  Confederate  calmly  talked  to  her  until 
fear  disappeared  and  the  love  of  adventure,  so  attrac- 
tive to  the  young,  took  its  place. 

That  evening,  in  pursuance  of  the  plan  he  had  been 
maturing  since  his  arrival  at  the  hospital,  Lexie  rode 
put  on  the  Shelby  Pike  several  miles  and  carried  a 
private  note  to  an  old  Southerner  who  owned  a  large 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  71 

farm  and  fine  thoroughbred  horses.  The  next  day 
Robert  Hope  appeared  to  be  much  worse  and  Lexie's 
aunts  came  to  see  him.  While  putting  a  fresh  pillow 
under  his  head  to  make  him  more  comfortable,  a  pistol 
was  buckled  on  him.  As  they  were  leaving,  Lexie, 
in  low  tones,  told  him  that  the  new  pillow  had  no 
feathers  in  it,  but  contained  a  full  suit  of  citizen's 
clothes.  That  day  her  aunts  went  to  see  General 
"Boil"  Bridges  and  asked  for  a  permit  to  enter  all  the 
hospitals  of  the  city,  their  purpose  being  to  help  the 
sick.  Without  suspecting  their  design,  he  said,  "I 
am  glad  to  see  ladies  willing  to  wait  on  Union  sol- 
diers," and  promptly  gave  them  the  permit.  Armed 
with  that  document  of  power  and-  implied  loyalty, 
they  appeared  at  the  hospital  after  dark.  The  doc- 
tors and  guards  were  lounging  about  the  front  door, 
some  talking,  others  smoking  and  several  sleeping 
upon  long  benches.  The  permit  was  read  by  the 
guard  at  the  Broadway  entrance  and  they  passed  in 
without  question.  Ascending  to  the  third  story,  they 
found  Robert  Hope  pale  and  anxious.  Just  as  they 
began  talking  over  the  details  which  Lexie  had  ar- 
ranged, a  guard  entered  and  called  for  the  permit. 
It  was  handed  to  him,  and,  after  carefully  reading  it, 
he  returned  it  in  silence,  retiring  immediately. 

What  did  this  mean?  Lexie's  heart  fluttered  with 
excitement,  and  Miss  Bina  and  Miss  Julia  lost  some 
of  that  cool-blooded  appearance  manufactured  for  the 
occasion. 

Aunt  Bina  said,  "If  old  'Boil'  Bridges  catches  us, 
we  are  good  for  his  woman's  prison  and  the  song  of 
the  Yankee  Shirt  for  the  rest  of  the  war." 


72  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

'  'Oh,  what  shall  we  do, "  cried  Lexie. 

"Be  calm,"  said  Robert  Hope. 

They  stopped  talking  and  listened  if  any  one  were 
at  the  door.  All  was  quiet.  No  sounds  were  on  the 
wooden  stairway. 

"Now  is  the  time,"  said  Robert  Hope,  and  in  a 
moment  two  window  slats  were  loosened, 

"Go  quickly,"  said  he,  "and  take  position." 

They  were  gone.  At  the  east  end  of  the  alley 
leading  from  the  rear  of  the  hospital.  Miss  Bina  and 
Lexie,  with  deeply  anxious  hearts,  promenaded  up 
and  down  Eighth  street  awaiting  results.  Miss  Julia, 
being  unable  to  stand  further  fatigue,  went  home. 
An  iiour  had  gone  and  nearly  another,  yet  nothing 
could  be  seen  in  the  alley,  save  the  gleam  of  the 
bayonet  in  the  moonlight  at  its  western  mouth. 

A  fire  alarm  was  turned  in  on  Ninth  and  Main.  The 
unexpected  sound  frightened  them  so  badly  that  they 
started  to  flee,  but,  like  all  other  persons,  they 
turned  toward  the  fire  and  were  possessed  of  a  strong 
impulse  to  go  to  it.  It  attracted  the  guards  because 
it  had  broken  out  in  large  government  stores. 

Robert  Hope  had,  in  the  meantime,  dressed  himself 
as  a  citizen  and  swung  to  the  top  of  the  second  story 
of  the  hospital.  He  was  crouching  and  crawling  over 
the  noise-making  tin  roof  toward  the  alley  when  the 
fire  alarm  burst  upon  th6  midnight' air.  He  knew  the 
power  of  a  fire  to  attract  attention  even  of  the  most 
sane  and  hurried  his  movements  to  the  angle  formed 
by  the  hospital  and  the  next  building  at  a  point  twenty 
feet  from  the  alley.     There  he  found  the  ladder  which 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  73 

the  faithful  family  servant  boy,  Ned,  had  placed  in 
the  angle.  Covered  by  the  shade  of  the  crowded 
buildings,  he  quietly  descended  until  half  way  down, 
when  the  frail  stair  broke  under  him  and  he  fell 
heavily  to  the  ground.  Stunned  and  writhing  in 
pain,  he  arose  and  hurriedly  left  the  snaded  angle 
and  glided  into  the  moonlit  alley.  To  his  left,  rising 
over  the  first  breakwater  of  the  Falls,  heavy 
columns  of  smoke  filled  the  air.  The  glare  of  the 
fierce  flames,  mingling  with  the  moonlight,  the  shout- 
ing of  the  firemen  which  rose  above  the  whistle  of  the 
engines,  absorbed  the  excited  crowds  gathering  on 
Eighth  and  Ninth  streets.  He  met  a  half  dozen  street 
gamin  in  the  alley  running  as  fast  as  their  legs  could 
carry  them  toward  Ninth  street.  Cautiously  emerg- 
ing into  Eighth,  he  faced,  with  indecision,  toward  the 
broad  belt  of  light  which  the  moon  was  pouring  down 
upon  Broadway  and  saw  two  blurred  figures  at  the 
corner. 

He  approached  ■  and  greeted  them  with,  '  'a  beauti- 
ful night,  isn't  it?" 

They  responded  by  taking  him  by  each  arm.  He 
winced;  gave  a  short,  quick  cry,  "O,  my  wounded 
arm  is  broken,"  and  they  hurried  along.  In  to  Broad- 
way, out  to  Fourth,  and  when  Second  was  reached  a 
body  of  cavalry,  walking,  trotting,  laughing  and 
singing,  swung  across  the  way  and  blocked  their  pas- 
sage for  ten  minutes. 

A  soldier  scurried  from  the  ranks  and,  pressing  his 
horse  close  to  the  pavement,  asked,  "Who  are  you, 
and  why  out  so  late?" 


74  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

"We've  been  to  a  big  fire  at  Ninth  and  Main  and 
are  going  home,  near  Brook,  south  of  Broadway," 
said  Lexie  as  quick  as  a  flash. 

"O  yes!  We  saw  the  light  from  the  Highlands," 
and,  satisfied,  he  spurred  away. 

Then  Lexie  and  her  aunt  bade  Robert  Hope  good- 
bye. They  almost  ran  across  Broadway,  and,  like 
phantoms,  disappeared  in  the  open  black  mouth  of 
South  Second  street,  where  heavy  trees  shaded  the 
junction  of  these  beautiful  avenues. 

His  escape  had  been  discovered  at  the  hospital  and 
the  provost  guard  were  scattering  in  every  direction, 
hoping  to  catch  him  before  he  could  get  into  hiding. 

Hearing  horsemen  coming  behind  him,  he  entered 
a  yard  full  of  heavy  trees.  Their  shade  hid  him  from 
view  as  the  provost  guards  with  clanking  spurs  and 
sabers  passed  close  by. 

Looking  around  one  said  to  the  other,  '  'There  would 
be  a  good  place  to  dodge  us." 

"No,"  said  the  latter,  "he  would  be  afraid  of  dogs 
or  of  being  taken  for  a  burglar  by  the  owner." 

As  soon  as  they  had  disappeared  he  entered  the 
street  again  and  wound  his  way  through  alleys,  cross- 
ing large  streets  under  the  shade  of  the  numerous 
trees,  dropping  into  the  weeds  of  vacant  lots  and 
hiding  behind  the  projections  from  old  walls  as  alarm 
or  actual  danger  dictated.  Weak  from  the  pain  of 
his  broken  arm  and  exhausted  by  exertion  and  anxiety, 
he  was  compelled,  when  the  banks  of  the  Beargrass 
were  reached,  to  stop  and  rest.  An  abandoned  wall, 
some  of  whose  tumbled  down  rocks  had  rolled  into 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  75 

the  stream,  ran  close  to  its  margin.  He  climbed  over 
this  broken  wall  and  crawled  between  it  and  the 
water  for  a  few  yards.  He  could  hear  the  hoof  beats 
on  the  street  leading  to  the  Shelby  Pike,  and  while 
prone  on  the  ground  a  lighter  tread  in  the  open  space 
between  the  wall  and  city  smote  his  alert  ear.  The 
sound  grew  stronger,  and  gradually  came  in  his  di- 
rection. Then  shuffling  feet  seemed  to  be  slipping 
over  the  grass  within  a  few  yards  of  the  wall.  The 
noise  of  the  steps  appeared  to  stop  at  his  very  head; 
his  heart  beat  violently,  and  cocking  his  pistol  with 
great  difficulty  he  awaited  discovery. 

"We  certainly  saw  him  go  down  the  bank  near 
here,"  said  one  of  the  human  sleuth-hounds. 

*  'It  was  lower  down. " 

They  moved  farther  away,  and  coming  to  the 
broken  place  where  he  had  passed  they  got  over  and 
tipped  across  the  stream  on  the  rocks  which  had 
fallen  into  it  from  the  dilapidated  wall.  He  lay  quite 
still  until  the  sound  of  foot  and  voice  was  hushed, 
and  then  arose,  half  bent,  and  pursued  his  way  in  the 
shadow  of  the  rocks  in  the  old  wall  until  he  emerged 
into  the  open  moonlight  then  streaming  from  the  un- 
clouded moon  which  had  sunk  far  to  the  west.  He 
took  his  bearings  and  bent  his  slow  steps  due  east- 
ward. An  hour's  steady  walk  brought  him  to  the 
Shelby  Pike,  three  hundred  yards  west  of  the  toll- 
gate,  then  kept  by  a  rebel  Irishman.  On  his  right 
stretched  a  lawn  in  front  of  a  white  cottage. 

While  studying  the  situation,  to  his  utter  dismay 
two  horsemen,  with  all  the  noisy  equipments  of  cav- 


76  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

airy,  appeared  in  front  of  him.  There  was  no  time 
for  deliberation.  With  drawn  ]3istol  he  advanced,  de- 
termined to  shoot  them  from  their  horses.  But  no! 
He  changes  his  mind;  turns  and  lays  down  the  cot- 
tage bars,  except  the  top  bar,  steps  through,  leans 
upon  the  undrawn  bar  with  "Lexie,"  as  he  called  his 
pistol,  between  it  and  his  bosom,  and  stands  intrepid, 
clear- visioned  and  cool  to  receive  the  foe,  making  up 
his  mind  and  steadying  his  nerve  for  the  encounter. 

They  had  seen  him  enter  the  cottage  yard  and  heard 
his  apparently  careless  hum  of  the  '  'Star  Spangled 
Banner,"  but  thought  it  best  to  investigate  so  early 
a  riser.  Day  dawn  was  beginning  to  fret  the  eastern 
sky,  and  they  were  in  a  hurry  as  bearers  of  dis- 
patches to  "Boil"  Bridges,  informing  him  of  Mor- 
gan's approach  on  one  of  his  wild  raids.  Turning 
their  horses'  heads  from  the  pike,  they  rode  up  to  the 
bars. 

The  Captain,  as  his  shoulder-straps  showed  him  to 
be,  spoke  and  bluntly  asked,  "Where  do  you  live?" 
emitting  with  his  breath  a  good  whiff  of  the  scent  of 
old  peach,  which  Robert  Hope  plainly  smelt. 

Nodding  his  head  backward  he  replied,  '  'Up  there 
in  my  little  white  cottage  on  the  lawn." 

"Where  are  you  from?" 

'  'I've  lived  here  this  many  a  day.  But  can't  you 
tell  me  some  news?  Are  the  rebels  doing  devilment 
anywhere  in  the  State?" 

"O  we  can't  tell,"  said  the  Captain;  "flying  rumors 
say  that  John  Morgan  is  on  a  raid,  but  it  may  be  one 
of  the  thousand  false  alarms  the  villain  raises  nearly 
every  week." 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  7T 

Robert  Hope  had  turned  Yankee  himself,  and  by- 
asking  questions  soon  blunted  suspicion  and  caused 
them  to  draw  rein  and  wish  to  be  off.  To  be  doubly- 
sure,  however,  of  leaving  no  doubt  in  their  minds  as 
to  his  citizenship,  he  boldly  and  kindly  said,  "Gen- 
tlemen, get  down  and  take  breakfast  with  us;  we  are 
early  risers,  it  will  soon  be  daylight  and  we  always 
take  breakfast  at  that  hour." 

The  Yankees  relaxed  their  bridle  reins,  the  Cap- 
tain cleared  his  throat  and  Robert  Hope's  forefinger 
touched  the  trigger  of  his  pistol  to  be  certain  it  was 
there.  His  suspense  was  intense.  His  heart  flew 
about  in  his  bosom  like  a  weaver's  shuttle  and  his 
knees  became  weak  for  an  instant,  but,  seizing  his 
nerve  with  his  will,  he  began  to  draw  his  pistol. 

The  Captain  said,  "No,"  with  a  long  drawl,  "we 
can't  stop  with  you,  but  would  like  to.  We  have  dis- 
patches, and  delay,  even  of  an  hour,  might  be  ruin- 
ous, for  Morgan  is  coming  and  I  must  be  going. 
Good-bye,"  and  off  they  went. 

Robert  Hope  reeled,  caught  his  breath  and  ex- 
claimed, "How  near  to  death  he  was!  What!  Is 
this  the  hospitality  of  war!  Invite  a  man  to  break- 
fast and  shoot  him  if  he  accepts !  This  kind  of  hos- 
pitality was  never  taught  in  old  Kentucky  before. 
Uh!    I  am  glad  they  didn't  accept!" 

He  mused  a  moment,  thinking  that  civil  war  was 
cruel,  unnatural  and  rarely  necessary.  Before  he 
could  analyze  the  nature  of  the  war  or  clearly  con- 
template its  immediate  effects  or  even  darkly  see  its 
ultimate  results,  his  mind  reverted  to  his  own  predic- 


78  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

ament  and  in  an  instant  he  was  moving,  as  a  shadow, 
toward  the  toll  gate.  There  stood  the  Irishman  in 
the  middle  of  the  pike,  just  as  Lexie  had  arranged  it. 

Robert  Hope  drew  his  pistol  and  advanced,  but  the 
rattle  of  wheels  and  the  quick  stroke  of  ironed  hoofs 
upon  the  metal  of  the  pike  alarmed  him  and  excited 
his  overstrained  nerves.  He  sprang  to  the  top  of  a 
stone  wall  which  paralleled  the  pike  and  tumbled 
over.  Lying  as  still  as  his  beating  heart  would 
permit  and  using  the  ground  as  a  telephone,  he 
heard  the  noise  deflect  from  the  road  and  stop  in  an 
orchard  to  the  rear  of  the  toll  house. 

He  sprang  to  his  feet,  muttering  to  himself,  '  'Lexie 
is  a  trump,  she  has  won  the  trick  again,"  and  over 
the  stone  fence  he  clambered,  scratching  blood  from 
his  white  hands  and  falling  to  his  knees  as  he  struck 
the  earth. 

"Up  now  and  at  the  toll  gate  keeper!"  said  he,  suit- 
ing action  to  words. 

**Good  evening." 

**Gude  avening." 

"What's  the  news?" 

"I  undurshtand  Margin's  captoored." 

"Well,  that's  all  right." 

"O,  the  latle  gyrl  has  bane  hure!  an'  it's  yersilf." 

Taking  Robert  Hope  up  bodily  in  his  arms  and  set- 
ting him  on  the  toll  gatherer's  platform,  the  Irish- 
man called  his  good  wife,  who  came  quickly  with  an 
apron  full  of  biscuits,  chicken  and  '  'patates. "  She 
uttered  many  prayers  for  his  escape  and  crossed  her- 
self at  every  word. 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  79 

"The  boogee  is  in  the  archid  waithin'  fur  ye."  ' 

"Call  it!" 

It  came  whirling  around  the  corner  of  the  toll 
house  and  in  half  a  minute  Robert  Hope  was  beside 
young  Tom  Mims  driving  for  life  and  liberty.  The 
next  night  a  new  guide  was  secured,  and,  mounted 
on  the  fleet  horse  furnished  by  the  old  Southerner, 
who  was  Tom's  father,  the  vicinity  of  Frankfort  was 
reached  and  sympathizers  were  again  found. 

There  the  noble  animal  was  abandoned  because  it 
was  impossible  for  a  mounted  soldier,  even  in  dis- 
guise, to  avoid  the  enemy,  who  were  picketing  and 
scouting  on  every  road  and  by-path  leading  south- 
ward. 


X. 

^  ^  D  OIL"  BRIDGES  had  set  a  price  upon  the  con- 
*■  1— )duct  of  the  best  men  in  Kentucky.  Like  Rau- 
tenfeld,  he  had  struck  at  the  liberty  of  debate  and 
election.  He  punished  silence,  stripped  unarmed 
citizens  of  protection  and  sought  to  shackle  thought 
itself  in  the  secret  chambers  of  the  heart.  Incapable 
of  guarding  the  State  against  Confederate  incursions, 
he  vented  his  rage  upon  civilians  and  held  them  re- 
sponsible for  military  acts  of  an  enemy  whom  he 
could  not  control  and  dared  not  meet  for  fear  of  cap- 
ture and  the  halter.  This  modern  Cossack,  without 
the  Cossack's  courage,  this  pretended  soldier,  half 
citizen,  but  thronging  "in  the  troops  of  military 
men"  as  an  enemy  to  peace,  gloating  over  the  miser- 
ies and  misfortunes  of  his  native  State,  miseries  for  • 
which  he  had  no  sympathy  and  misfortunes  he  was 
incompetent  to  remedy,  strove,  as  Satan  would  have 
striven  in  his  place,  to  tear  down  the  fabric  of  society 
that  he  might  revel  in  chaos  and  confusion.  He 
turned  loose  upon  the  pockets  and  peace  of  women 
and  non-combatants  the  dastard  spirits  of  domestic 
disturbance  and  bloody  discord.  Almost  every  cave, 
wood  and  hiding  place  in  the  unhappy  State  shel- 
tered an  embryo  Confederate  soldier.     By  appoint- 

80 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  81 

ment,  Robert  Hope  met  Sunny  Withers,  an  ardent 
youth  of  twenty,  at  Daniel  Boone's  monument,  which 
overlooks  the  Kentucky  river  from  Kentucky's  ceme- 
tery, where  "Glory  guards  with  solemn  round  the 
bivouac  of  the  dead."  Clouds  obscured  the  face  of 
the  moon,  the  wind  shook  the  high  tops  of  the  cy- 
press and  the  pine  that  now  cast  friendly  shadows 
over  the  graves  of  brave  young  Horton  and  of  the 
lamented  boy  Hunt,  shot  to  death,  while  prisoners, 
without  trial,  contrary  to  all  law,  human  and  divine, 
by  the  black  order  of  pretended  retaliation  signed 
by  the  gory  hand  of  Jerry  Burr.  O  that  this  blur 
could  be  erased  from  Kentucky's  history  by  the  re- 
cording angel  I  But  it  can  not  be  done  and  the  igno- 
ble must  stand  in  the  dark  background  while  the 
beautiful  light  of  the  brave.  Union  and  Confederate, 
must  illumine  the  picture  of  Kentucky's  honor  and 
fame.  The  night  was  alternately  flecked  with  deep 
shadow  and  fleecy  light  as  the  clouds  floated  by,  now 
obscuring,  now  incovering  old  Luna's  solemn  face. 
"Hold  up  your  hand,"  said  Robert  Hope,  yet  he 
had  never  seen  the  face  of  Sunny  Withers. 

"You  do  solemnly  swear  you  will  faithfully  per- 
form the  duties  of  a  soldier  of  the  army  of  the  Con- 
federate States  for  three  years  or  during  the  war, 
and  that  you  will  support  and  defend  the  Confederate 
Constitution,  so  help  you  God!" 

They  shook  hands  and  walked  to  Kentucky's  Battle 
Monument,  which  raises  its  shielded  head  high  above 
shadowed  graves,  above  the  tree  tops  and  into  the 
clouds,  its  marbled  eagles  gazing  north  and  west  upon 

6 


82  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

the  Capitol.  On  the  eastern  face  of  the  monument 
the  anaglyph  of  "Dick"  Johnson  killing  Tecumseh 
stands  out  in  bold  relief,  and  the  names  of  the  sons  of 
Kentucky,  who  fell  for  our  country,  are  chiseled 
above  the  eagles  on  every  face  of  the  white  pillar. 
They  sat  down  upon  the  marble  slab  which  covers 
the  remains  of  young  Henry  Clay,  who  rests  with  the 
fallen  of  Buena  Vista. 

"Ah,"  said  Robert  Hope,  "it  fills  my  soul  with 
solemn  awe  to  sit  like  Marius  among  the  dead  glories 
of  Kentucky  and  look  upon  her  Capitol,  where 
tyrants  tread  and  speak  and  cruel  proscriptions  are 
hatched." 

Young  Sunny  Withers  drew  a  deep  sigh,  and,  ris- 
ing to  his  feet,  exclaimed,  "  'Boil'  Bridges  and  Jerry 
Burr  ought  to  have  lived  when  Poland  was  dismem- 
bered! If  the  dead  could  rise,  Kentucky  would  rise 
and  drive  these  base  sons  from  her  sacred  soil !  Oh, 
let  us  go!" 

With  sad  hearts,  they  left  the  sacred  spot  and 
sought  the  rugged  hills  and  rough  precipices  of 
Glenn's  Creek,  and  at  day-break  hid  themselves  in 
McDonald's  old  mill,  which  was  idle  because  Glenn's 
Creek  was  low.  At  night-fall  they  sallied  forth  from 
the  grim  old  mill,  and,  after  an  hour's  quick  walk, 
crossed  the  Versailles  Pike.  At  midnight  they  re- 
connoitered  the  old  homestead  where  Robert  Hope 
was  born.  In  the  moonlight  the  shadows  of  the  big 
sugar  trees  and  great  oaks,  of  the  old  elm  and  tall 
Columbian  poplars,  fell  across  and  beyond  the  wide 
metaled  highway  which  ran  by  Robert  Hope's  home, 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  83 

and,  which,  like  a  current  covered  with  foam,  rolled 
away  over  gentle  slopes  and  wide  depressions,  be- 
tween waving  wheat  fields  and  the  blue  bosoms  of 
Woodford's  swelling  pastures.  It  was  a  long  time 
till  daylight.  In  yard  and  garden,  on  barn  and  man- 
sion, over  fields  and  woods,  the  moon  shone  down  soft 
and  still.  Not  a  sound  nor  a  disturbance  broke  the 
silence  of  the  night.  The  two  men  crossed  the  stone 
wall  that  enclosed  the  wide  grounds  which  surround- 
ed this  old  Kentucky  home.  The  deep  bluegrass 
softly  received  their  sinking  feet.  From  the  shadow 
of  one  of  those  old  forest  trees  that  stood  so  tall  and 
silent,  they  crossed  the  moonlit  spaces  to  another, 
until  they  reached  the  old  cook's  cabin  which  stood 
apart  from  "de  white  folkses  house." 

A  gentle  rap  at  the  door. 

"Who's  dar?" 

"Open  and  see;  it's  Robert." 

"  'Taint  no  sich  thing;  Robert's  killed  atShyloar." 

"Oh,  no,  I  wasn't;  I  am  right  here.  Aunt  Usley, 
but  I  am  wounded." 

This  brought  her  to  the  door,  and,  when  her  old 
eyes  fell  upon  the  pale  face  of  her  young  master,  she 
burst  into  a  flood  of  tears In  a  few  mo- 
ments the  clatter  of  cavalry  was  heard  on  the  pike; 
the  yards  and  grounds  were  full  of  bluecoats;  every 
door  of  the  mansion  was  instantly  surrounded  by  a 
dozen  or  more  dragoons,  and  loud  demands  of  '  'Open 
the  door!"  were  heard,  but  Aunt  Usley's  cabin  was 
recognized  as  loyal  by  confidential  inattention. 

"Mos'  Robert,  you  and  yer  fren  git  under  Aunt 


84  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

Usley's  bade;  dey  won't  cum  in  hyar.  De  Yankees 
sarched  de  white  folkses  house  afore  dis,  but  alys 
axed  Aunt  Usley  to  tell  on  de  white  folks,  en  she  told 
'em  she  would,  but  ye  knows,  Mos'  Robert,  she 
didn't, "  and,  like  many  another  Confederate,  he  trust- 
ed, with  safety,  his  life  and  liberty  to  the  old  family 
servant. 

God  bless  the  old  family  servant!  Though  ignor- 
ant and  in  bonds,  they  were  faithful  to  the  ties  of 
heart  and  to  the  love  of  humanity,  which  so  often  ex- 
isted between  master  and  slave.  When  the  la- 
borer and  the  heavily  laden  shall  drop  their  bur- 
dens, the  old  family  servant  will  hear  the  call  of  the 
Blessed  Master,  '  'Come  unto  me  and  I  will  give  you 
rest. " 

Aunt  Usley  went  out  amongst  the  soldiers,  but  re- 
turned in  a  short  time  and  said,  "Mos'  Robert,  dey 
ar  a'gwine  to  camp  on  ole  Moster  en  sed  de'r  arfter 
you." 

Robert  and  his  comrade  slipped  out  of  the  back  door 
of  the  cabin  into  its  shadow,  and,  keeping  in  the 
thickets  of  shrubs  and  rose  bushes  and  shadows 
of  the  big  trees,  with  the  cabin  between  them  and 
the  guarded  mansion,  which  was  being  rudely 
searched,  they  crouched  away  and  were  soon  beyond 
the  sound  of  sabers,  spurs  and  speech. 

Robert  Hope's  heart  was  sad,  and  the  unseen  faces 
of  his  mother  and  sisters,  and  his  father's  benevolent 
countenance  and  courtly  manner,  arose,  as  in  his 
dreams  among  the  bloody  cots  of  Shiloh,  to  his  men- 
tal vision  and  filled  his  heart  with  nostalgia's  keenest 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  85 

pains.  His  disappointment  grew  to  remorse,  and,  as 
he  toiled  on  through  the  night,  homeless  and  misera- 
ble, the  horrors  of  war  absorbed  his  thoughts;  but 
finally  its  exactions  dissipated  his  longing  for  home's 
sweet  scenes. 


XI. 

YOUNG  SUNNY  WITHERS  was  of  a  cheerful 
spirit,  smiled  when  he  spoke  and  laughed  at 
everything  humorous;  but,  if  tongues  cut  with  a  sharp 
edge,  his  spirit  seemed  to  wince  and  sink  at  once  to 
quietude. 

Robert  Hope  became  sincerely  attached  to  him. 
Their  communion  made  the  night  cheerful.  They 
marched  together  around  the  most  dangerous  towns 
and  military  posts  in  the  night  and  their  toils  became 
the  labor  of  patient  duty.  The  secret  places  of  woods 
and  rocks,  which  hid  them  by  day,  were  solitudes  of - 
restful  freedom. 

They  assumed  the  talk  and  put  on  the  garb  of  cattle 
drivers  returning  from  Cincinnati,  whither  stock 
could  yet  be  freely  taken,  for  the  system  of  trade  per- 
mits had  not  then  been  adopted,  and  thereafter  they 
boldly  traveled  in  daylight,  continuing  on  foot  along 
the  public  highways,  like  aiite-bellum  peddlers,  with 
stick  and  bundle. 

On  the  18th  of  July  they  approached  the  northwest 
border  of  Branch  county.  At  the  junction  of  Blue 
Lick  river  and  Whirling  Log  creek,  on  whose  banks 
this  story  began,  they  hallooed  for  the  boatman  on 
the  opposite  shore,  but  Fate  Wolf  responded,  "He's 

86 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  87 

not  hyur  nur  haint  bean  sense  night  afore  last  fur  the 
rebels  captoored  him  en  tuck  him  off." 

"Can't  you  bring  over  the  boat?" 

Fate  Wolf  was  doubtful  of  the  loyalty  of  the 
strangers,  but  finally,  seeing  no  arms  and  knowing 
that  "Colonel"  Patter  was  near,  concluded  it  was 
safe  to  ferry  them  over. 

As  they  were  coming  up  the  bank  to  the  point 
where  Fate  Wolf  had  hitched  Fiat-Foot  to  a  pawpaw 
bush,  "Colonel"  Patter  rode  up  on  Long-Leaper. 

"How  are  you,  gentlemen?     Cattle  drivers?" 

"Yes, "  answered  Robert  Hope,  "we  are  just  get- 
ting back  from  a  hard  trip  to  Cincinnati." 

"What  is  the  news  there?"  inquired  "Colonel"  Pat- 
ter in  his  most  sociable  tones,  to  which  Robert  Hope 
replied,  '  'Well,  there  is  a  good  deal  of  talk  about  the 
rebels  coming.  It  seems  that  scouts,  spies  and  East 
Tennessee  refugees  report  preparations  and  signs  of 
a  campaign  in  Kentucky  by  Bragg  and  Kirby 
Smith." 

"That's  powerful  ugly,"  said  Fate  Wolf,  "fur  that 
geriller  Morgan  captoored  Cythy-Ann  yistiddy. " 

"What  I"  exclaimed  Sunny  Withers,  but,  to  hide  his 
mistake  in  unguardedly  expressing  evident  interest, 
he  laughed  and  wound  up  with  the  statement  that 
"Boil"  Bridges  would  have  Morgan  caught. 

"That  is  very  doubtful,"  said  "Colonel"  Patter, 
"for  there  was  great  excitement  in  Lexington  on 
Tuesday  when  we  delivered  our  last  wagon-load  of 
recruits  to  the  Government.  Some  of  the  recruits 
wanted  to  come  back  with  us  and  I  expect  lots  of 


S8  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

them  left  last  night.  Where  do  you  live,  gentle- 
men?" 

Robert  Hope,  pretending  to  be  very  much  alarmed, 
asked,  in  return,  with  great  earnestness  of  tone  and 
manner,  "What  would  you  advise  us  to  do?" 

Fate  Wolf,  ever  on  the  lookout  for  recruits  or  sur- 
prises, interposed  an  answer  between  his  mental 
King  and  Robert  Hope's  check. 

" Jist  go 'long  with  us  en  we'll  take  cere  uv  ye," 
'  winking  at  the  boys  as  he  said  this. 

"All  right,"  responded  Robert  Hope,  much  more 
cheerfully  than  he  felt. 

Fearing  that  Morgan  might  come  that  way,  they 
started  for  the  wooded  interior  of  Branch  county  and 
arrived  after  dark  at  the  house  of  Penn  Grabbe. 
Fate  Wolf  was  the  first  to  enter,  and,  winking  at 
Grabb6,  who  welcomed  him  a.t  the  door  as  he  passed 
in,  whispered,  "Think  I've  got  two  more  recroots. 
Lemme  manage  'em." 

Grabb^  shook  hands  all  round  and  imitated  a  Ken- 
tucky welcome  as  well  as  skillful  counterfeits  repre- 
sent genuine  coin. 

For  three  days  the  individuality  of  Robert  Hope 
and  Sunny  Withers  appeared  to  be  swallowed  up, 
as  completely  as  Jonah,  by  the  recruiting  whale 
which  had  been  engulfing  all  kinds  of  material  since 
the  battle  of  Bull  Run. 


XII. 

THEY  loitered  around  for  a  week  or  two,  taking 
many  trips  about  the  neighborhood.  At  last 
Fate  WoK  thought  the  strangers  ripe  for  persuasion 
and  jocularly  remarked,  "Bounties,  boys!  ef  ye'll  jine 
the  army.  Uncle  Sam  put  in  a  Act  last  July  givin'  a 
hundred  dollars  to  all  boys  who'll  resk  his  life  fur 
the  old  flag." 

"But  the  'resk'  is  the  objection,"  said  Robert  Hope, 
*'for  what  would  it  profit  a  man  to  save  the  old  flag 
and  lose  his  own  life. " 

'  'The's  hardly  enny  resk  a  tall  in  it  fur  we  haint 
had  a  recroot  killed  yit,"  encouragingly  responded 
Fate  Wolf. 

"Come,  boys,  just  join  for  the  fun  of  it,  for  big 
bounties,  blue  clothes,  green  money  and  future  pen- 
sions," said  Penn  Grabbe  by  way  of  inducement. 

"Well,"  remarked  Sunny  Withers,  "it's  very 
tempting,  but  we'd  better  wait  a  while  and  see  how 
you  get  along." 

"Of  course  we  will  not  hurry  you,  boys;  you  can 
take  your  own  time  to  think  it  over,"  kindly  said 
Grabb^. 

They  broke  off  the  conversation  at  this  point  to 
hear  the  news  which  "Colonel"  Patter  had  received 


90  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

from  a  "Tiger  Home  Guard,"  who  had  just  passed 
up  from  that  famous  horse-breeding  region,  the 
Bluegrass,  with  a  better  horse  than  the  one  he  had. 
passed  down  on  a  week  before. 

The  "Tiger  Home  Guard"  said  that  Kirby  Smith 
was  in  the  State  and  all  troops  and  recruits  had  been 
ordered  to  Richmond  to  fight  him,  if  he  should  come 
that  far;  this  "Colonel"  Patter  plainly  reported, 
without  frills  or  hyperboles  of  speech. 

The  news  created  excitement,  which  soon  abated 
because  sober  second  thought  discredited  the  bearer, 
who  had  cantered  away  on  the  pretty  sorrel  thor- 
oughbred, whose  small,  leaf-like  ears,  long,  shapely 
pasterns,  high  withers  and  lengthy  limbs,  clean  and 
muscled  as  if  wrapped  with  twisted  thongs,  would 
have  made  Rosalie  Bonheur's  brush  speak  another 
history  of  the  horse's  noble  development  in  the  New 
World. 

Robert  Hope  was  himself  once  more,  barring  the 
fcroken  arm,  which  was  not  very  painful. 

Sunny  Withers,  yet  a  minor,  was  learning  of  war's 
conditions  much  of  human  nature  which  lies  dormant 
In  peace. 

Fate  Wolf's  cunning  was  a  patent  ambiguity. 
Penn  Grabb^'s  power  lay  deeper,  and,  to  all  the 
world,  save  himself,  his  strategy  was  a  latent  am- 
biguity which  even  the  sharp  probe  of  a  Chancellor's 
cx)nscience  could  not  have  reached. 

Flying  rumors  daily  swept  over  Branch  county, 
whispering  of  the  foe's  advance. 

Colonel  Calfe   had   organized  a  regiment  and  es- 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  91 

tablished  the  system  of  extortion  which  cul«minated 
in  Jerry  Burr's  "hog  order"  and  the  trade  permits  of 
"Boil"  Bridges,  as  well  as  in  the  military  robberies 
of  General  Paine,  who  made  the  people  of  Paducah 
pay  him  fifty  cents  for  the  privilege  of  drawing 
checks  and  ten  cents  for  mailing  letters. 

In  the  fair  county  of  Nicholas,  where  Colonel  Calfe 
first  drew  the  breath  of  life,  he  arrested  the  best  and 
wealthiest  citizens.  For  taking  an  extorted  oath  of 
allegiance  or  giving  bond  he  charged  large  sums  of 
money  and  viciously  cursed  the  victims  of  his  greed. 
His  heart  was  black  with  envy,  seared  by  conspir- 
acies against  his  old  neighbors  and  reeking  with  a 
half-civilized  remorse  for  the  cowardly  murder  of  a 
poor,  nervous  inebriate,  whom  he  shot  to  death  un- 
der the  forms  of  a  pretended  duel.  The  deed  was 
done  between  the  shores  of  two  great  States  and  by 
murmuring  waters.  The  superstitious  avoid  the  spot 
as  they  would  the  plague,  and  never  speak  of  the 
murder  without  a  shudder.  Having  filched  by  duress 
sixty  thousand  dollars  from  peaceful  citizens  and 
put  the  money  in  his  pocket  he  marched  for  Big 
Hill. 

On  the  way  Penn  Grabb6  joined  him  with  twenty 
recruits.  Robert  Hope  and  Sunny  Withers,  "Col- 
oner'  Patter  and  Fate  Wolf  rode  among  them. 

"How  did  you  mount  your  men?"  inquired  Colonel 
Calfe. 

"The  same  way  you  made  the  rebels  of  Nicholas 
take  the  oath,  give  bond  and  pay  the  fiddler," 
replied  Penn  Grabbe,  "by  main  strength  and 
strategy. " 


92  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

Colonel  Calfe  expelled  a  dead  laugh  from  his 
throat,  his  little,  sharp,  black  eyes  danced  under  his 
beetling  brows  and  his  long,  hawk-billed  nose  touched 
the  curl  of  his  scornful  upper  lip,  his  lower  lip  com- 
pleting a  perfectly  animal  mouth. 

'  'I'll  muster  in  your  men  when  we  get  to  Rich- 
mond. Fall  in  behind  my  column  and  forage  on  the 
rebel  houses.  You  can  make  no  mistake.  Every 
brick  house  contains  a  rebel.  They  have  lived  in 
luxury  long  enough,  and  I  propose  a  divide!  The 
time  has  come!" 

On  they  went,  depredating  and  roistering,  until 
Richmond  was  reached.  There  was  no  time  for  de- 
lay. The  enemy  were  advancing,  and  Colonel 
Calfe  was  ordered  to  proceed,  without  halting,  to 
Big  Hill.  On  its  wooded  sides  he  for  the  first  time 
met  soldiers  of  war.  Being  a  fine  shot  and  good 
woodsman  himself,  he  ordered  his  freebooters  to  take 
trees,  and  they  took  them  like  frightened  squirrels. 

The  Louisiana  Confederate  Cavalry  moved  to  the 
onset.  Their  swords  were  out,  the  rebel  yell  pierced 
the  summer  air  and  the  whirring  shells  crashed 
through  the  trees.  Onward  they  came,  like  vengeance 
for  evil  deeds.  The  freebooters  and  their  commander 
fled  as  sheep  before  the  Beagles  of  New  Zealand. 
Every  road,  by-path,  field  and  wood  was  filled  with 
hatless,  scampering  squads;  "not  a  soul  but  felt  the 
fever  of  the  mad"  and  played  tricks  of  flight  more 
desperate  than  did  the  men  of  Manassas.  Each 
man  headed  for  the  Ohio  river,  and  made  the  fastest 
military  time  on  record.     General  Nelson  ordered  the 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  93 

jailers  of  counties  through  which  they  passed  to 
arrest  and  jail  the  cowards  as  deserters;  but  the  jail- 
ers, not  being  as  swift  as  the  wind,  caught  none  of 
them. 

As  they  whirled  in  thick  clouds  of  dust  along  Ken- 
tucky's broad,  beautiful  highways,  many  were  the 
shouting  inquiries  made  by  citizens  of  this  noble 
band  who  were  fleeing  for  pay  and  patriotism. 
They  gave  no  intelligent  response  until  the  hills  and 
shades  of  Carlisle,  where  Calfe  had  put  money  in 
his  pocket  for  oaths  and  bonds,  were  reached.  De- 
scending the  slopes  from  the  south,  they  passed  a 
lawyer's  residence  whom  Calfe  had  despoiled. 

He  shouted  to  them,  "Tell  me  the  news!  Tell  me 
the  news!    What's  the  news?" 

No  response  greeted  his  anxious  inquiry.  At  last, 
becoming  desperate,  he  rushed  to  his  gate  and  said 
to  the  hatless,  coatless,  unarmed  horseman  who  was 
galloping  in  the  rear,  "D —  you,  were  you  whipped?" 

"No,"  said  this  rapidly  moving  child  of  war,  "we 
wusn't  whupped,  but  wus  moralized  outen  our  places 
in  the  ranks  en  couldn't  git  back. " 

The  noble  band  was  soon  out  of  sight,  and  the  law- 
yer went  back  to  his  house  murmuring  to  himself,  '  'I 
knew  a  robber  of  unarmed  citizens  wouldn't  fight. 
One  night  he  threw  a  glass  through  a  parlor  win- 
dow and  cut  the  head  of  a  lady  to  the  skull,  but  he 
got  knocked  down  for  that.  Now  he's  Colonel! 
What  will  become  of  this  country?" 

For  months  fragments  of  the  freebooters  were 
found  all  around  the  northern  periphery  of  a  circle 


94  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

more  than  one  hundred  and  fifty  miles  from  Big 
Hill,  and  reaching  far  into  the  war-like  State  of  Ohio. 

As  the  Louisiana  Cavalry  swept  down  the  northern 
slopes  of  Big  Hill,  Robert  Hope  and  Sunny  Withers 
stood  close  to  the  trees  which  they  had  sought  when 
the  horse  holders  and  Penn  Grabb^'s  recruits  had 
fled. 

"Surrender,"  said  a  manly  looking  Confederate 
officer. 

'  'With  pleasure, "  shouted  Sunny  Withers.  '  'Charge 
them!     They  are  running  like  deer!" 

"Give  us  guns!"  cried  Robert  Hope,  "we  are  es- 
caped Confederates!" 

But  the  cautious  soldier  said,  "No,  you  had  better 
be  prisoners  a  while  and  then  we'll  see  about  who 
you  are." 

Placing  them  under  guard,  he  pushed  on  in  the 
chase.  Soon  the  Louisiana  horsemen  were  upon  the 
rear  of  the  flying  fugitives,  picking  up  prisoners  and 
increasing  the  foe's  consternation.  After  dark,  when 
"the  shout  and  din  of  battle"  had  passed  Rob- 
ert Hope  and  Sunny  Withers  were  taken  to  head- 
quarters. By  their  intelligent  statements  and  can- 
did bearing  General  Kirby  Smith  was  convinced  of 
their  sincerity. 

Next  morning  they  were  mounted  upon  horses  cap- 
tured from  the  flying  forces  of  Col.  Calfe  and  tempo- 
rarily attached  to  the  Louisiana  Cavalry.  The  march 
upon  Richmond  was  resumed,  and  Sunny  Withers, 
bright  and  buoyant,  laughed,  sang  and  rejoiced  in 
his  youthful  manhood.     His  beardless  cheeks  were 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  95 

carnation  and  his  gentle  brown  eyes  lighted  a  pure 
face.  His  black  hair  graced  his  youthful  temples 
and  his  athletic  young  form,  trained  to  the  saddle, 
looked  every  inch  a  soldier.  Gayly,  cheerfully  he 
rode  by  the  side  of  calm,  brave  Robert  Hope,  whose 
quiet  demeanor  contrasted  attractively  with  the  gal- 
lant Kentucky  boy  whom  he  had  enlisted  among  the 
tombs  of  Kentucky's  sacred  dead.  They  talked  of 
their  homes  and  hardships  just  passed  and  joyfully 
anticipated  a  quick  return  to  the  scenes  of  their  child- 
hood, from  which  one  had  so  recently  fled  and  the 
other  been  so  rudely  excluded.  Aunt  Usley's  fidelity 
had  to  be  rewarded,  if  they  should  ever  see  her 
again.  The  family  reunion,  parties  and  balls  and 
gayety  and  the  girls  they  left  behind  them  were  be- 
ing discussed,  when  the  boom  of  a  cannon  rolled  over 
the  hills  and  fields  in  front  of  them. 

"The  enemy  are  in  front,"  passed  from  lip  to  lip. 

The  column  halted  for  a  few  minutes.  Men  were 
dismounting,  hurriedly  tightening  girths,  adjusting 
accoutrements,  remounting,  turning  about  and  nerv- 
ously testing  stirrup  leathers  by  rising  in  their  seats 
and  thus  placing  the  whole  weight  upon  the  stirrup. 
The  rattle  of  musketry  was  heard.  It  grew  louder 
and  seemed  to  come  nearer. 

"Our  men  are  falling  back,"  said  Robert  Hope,  and 
sure  enough  they  were. 

By  the  time  it  was  dark,  the  enemy  had  advanced  a 
mile  or  more  and  bivouacked  for  the  night.  From 
this  position  they  were  driven  next  morning  in  great 
confusion,  but,  being  reinforced,  rallied  at  ten  o'clock 
and  stood  for  another  onset. 


96  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

The  brave  Union  General  Manson,  who  had  vio- 
lated orders  rather  than  flee,  was  encouragingly  active. 
His  brow  bore  the  shadows  of  defeat,  yet  his  unquail- 
ing  spirit  nerved  his  uneasy  lines  for  the  renewal  of 
the  fray  as  Cleburne's  gray  column,  with  the  in- 
domitable tread  of  victors,  swung  from  the  woods 
into  Madison's  brown  pastures  and  waving  fields  of 
corn. 

The  steady  gray  line  steadily  advanced  through 
shot  and  shell,  closing  the  gaps  of  casualties  by  a 
right  or  left  dress  such  as  Southern  infantry  was. 
wont  to  make  on  the  field  of  glory  when  charging  the 
double  foe  and  attracting  the  world's  wonders. 

Churchill's  Arkansians  and  Texans  broke  into  a 
double-quick,  and,  with  the  inspiration  of  the  wild, 
heart-chilling  rebel  yell,  hurled  themselves  upon  the 
right  wing,  while  Cleburne's  immortal  infantry  swept 
the  left  and  center.  Manson  was  still  master  of  his 
own  pluck.  As  if  to  fill  his  men  with  the  mysteries 
of  death  and  court  its  conveniences,  he  rallied  his 
broken  columns  among  the  tombs  and  white  shafts  of 
Richmond's  sacred  necropolis.  Here  the  last  des- 
perate stand  was  made.  But  the  evil  genius  of  de- 
feat stalked  through  the  grave-yard,  and,  while  Man- 
son's  stout  heart  was  breaking,  hi^  disordered  legions 
broke  and  fled  from  the  ghostly  field,  a  panic- stricken 
rabble,  seeking  safety  in  unsoldierly  fiight. 

The  Louisiana  Cavalry  had  gained  the  rear  of  the 
rolling,  surging,  demoralized  mass.  Manson,  rising 
to  the  sublimity  of  genuine  courage,  drew  his  unfor- 
tunate sword.     One  hundred  determined  spirits,  alL 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  97 

that  were  left  organized  of  ten  thousand,  followed  it. 

"Charge  the  road!"  cried  he,  and  it  was  cleared; 
but  it  filled  again!  Yet  onward  Manson  rode,  his  lit- 
tle column  dying  at  every  step.  The  last  scene  of  the 
bloody  tragedy  had  come!  The  curtains  of  night 
were  falling.  The  audience  of  stars  came  out  upon 
the  sky. 

Manson,  cool,  desperate  and  admirable,  rose  in  his 
stirrups  and  his  gallant  sword  flashed  in  the  twilight; 
a  thousand  Louisianans  shouted  surrender  as  their 
serried  ranks  advanced  to  finish  the  conflict. 

Manson  answered  the  demand  with  the  order,  '  'Ad- 
vance and  cut  your  way  out!" 

Concentrating  his  little  band  on  a  single  point,  he 
led  it  to  destruction.  Forty-two  lay  dead  and  dying 
around  him.  His  noble  steed  fell  under  the  brave 
rider  and  pinned  him  to  the  earth.  Sunny  Withers 
fell  facing  him.  A  pistol  ball  had  pierced  his 
lungs.  The  gray  line  swept  by.  His  old  mother, 
at  that  very  moment,  was  thinking  of  his  brave, 
bright  face  and  recalling  how  it  looked  when 
he  bade  her  good-bye  for  the  Southern  Army. 
Robert  Hope  was  searching  for  him  among  the  slain! 
Five  thousand  federal  troops  were  sending  up  a  deep 
hum  of  alarm  and  disappointment  from  the  field  while 
their  surrender  was  taking  place.  Nelson,  wounded, 
had  escaped.  Night  confused  all  countenances  and 
destroyed  the  power  of  recognition,  except  by  touch 
and  voice.  The  stars  hung  low  in  the  heavens  and 
calmly  gazed  down  upon  the  exciting  scene;  upon  the 
pale   faces  of  the   dead   scattered   over  the  battle's 

7 


98  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

course  for  two  leagues;  upon  the  distorted  features 
of  the  wounded  writhing  in  agony;  upon  the  plung- 
ing animals  shot  in  harness;  upon  the  wild  horses, 
riderless,  galloping  over  the  fields,  splashing  into 
puddles  of  blood,  and  upon  the  convulsed  features  of 
the  mangled  remains  of  Sunny  Withers. 

Manson  struggled  from  beneath  his  gallant  steed 
and  groped  his  way  to  the  corse  of  the  handsome 
youth  whose  last  words  he  had  heard.  For  a  mo- 
ment he  looked  through  the  gloom  into  the  upturned 
face,  it  was  too  dark  to  see  what  else  he  did,  and  then 
sought  his  fallen  army  and  surrendered  with  it. 

The  next  morning  a  Confederate  General  and  staff 
were  passing,  and,  seeing  a  white  handkerchief  over 
the  face  of  the  dead,  he  dismounted.  It  was  rever- 
ently removed,  and  the  smile  that  had  been  worn  in 
life  still  played  around  the  pale  lips,  from  which 
hung  sprays  of  froth  like  white  clematis.  In  the  left 
breast  pocket  a  New  Testament  was  found,  and  on 
the  fly  leaf  was  this  inscription: 

"Remember  thy  Creator  in  the  days  of  thy  youth." 

From  his  bosom  was  taken  a  small  silken  flag  of 
red  and  white  stripes  delicately  stitched  together; 
stiff  with  blood  and  torn  by  the  bullet  which  had  slain 
his  young  life.  In  one  corner  of  this  miniature  flag, 
skillfully  worked  by  fair  hands,  were  these  words: 
"Victory  or  Death  for  Dixie/' 

Robert  Hope,  who  had  been  searching  for  Sunny 
Withers  since  daylight,  rode  up  and  dismounted.  The 
^Confederate  General  saw,  from,  his  swimming  eyes, 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  99 

that  he  knew  the  dead,  and  handed  him  the  white 
handkerchief,  the  New  Testament  and  the  little  red 
flag.  Not  a'  word  was  spoken,  and,  while  Robert 
Hope  was  kneeling  and  sadly  looking  into  the  dead 
face,  the  General  and  staff  silently  rode  away. 

The  remains  were  carried  with  the  advancing  army 
to  Frankfort  for  interment.  A  Confederate  officer 
placed  the  white  handkerchief  over  his  face;  his 
mother  laid  the  little  Testament  on  his  bier;  .  .  .  . 
dropped  the  bloody  flag  into  the  grave,  and  the  rat- 
tling clods  soon  covered  him.  "Ready!"  cried  the 
Confederate  oificer,  in  clear  tones :  "Present.     Fire." 

The  military  salute  reverberated  over  the  waters  of 
the  beautiful  Kentucky  and  died  away  among  the 
cliffs  and  hills  of  Kentucky's  public  tombs. 

Then  they  left  him  to  rest  under  the  blue  sod  in  the 
shadow  of  Kentucky's  battle  monument. 

Brief  glory ! 


XIII. 

THE  Union  army  broke  camp  at  Nashville  and  the 
famous  race  of  '62  began  between  Bragg  and 
Buell,  the  goal  being  Louisville. 

Lema  Sayr  gathered  all  the  lint,  bandages  and 
medicines  left  of  a  supply  sent  to  her  from  New  Eng- 
land. 

In  an  ambulance  furnished  by  General  Bright,  she 
followed  the  army,  keeping  close  in  the  rear  of  the 
Seventh  brigade,  commanded  by  General  Lytle,  who 
composed  the  song  "Cleopatra."  In  the  excitement 
of  the  swift  march,  she  maintained  her  presence  of 
mind  and  safely  avoided  every  peril. 

Having  arrived  at  Louisville,  she  went  immediately 
to  the  hospitals.  While  visiting  the  cots  at  Ninth 
and  Broadway  she  asked,  "Why  are  the  windows 
kept  fastened  and  fresh  air,  so  essential  to  the  sick, 
excluded?" 

'  'Because  a  rebel  by  the  name  of  Hope  prized  one 
open  and  escaped  over  the  roof,"  said  the  provost 
guard. 

"Show  me  where  he  did  it!"  she  exclaimed  in  a 
quick,  nervous  way  that  caused  the  guard  to  scan 
her  face. 

The  soldier's  manner  called  her  attention  to  the  in- 

100 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  101 

terest  she  had  manifested,  and,  with  affected  indiffer- 
ence, she  said,  "O  never  mind,"  but  continued  to 
think  that  it  might  have  been  Robert  Hope. 

After  examining  and  noting  the  condition  of  every 
cot,  saying  kind  words  to  one  and  giving  little  deli- 
cacies to  another,  she  descended  the  two  long  stair- 
ways and  spoke  to  the  surgeon  in  charge  about  some 
sanitary  changes  the  wards  and  rooms  needed. 

"Have  you  had  many  escapes.  Doctor?" 

"Only  three  since  a  man  by  the  name  of  Robert 
Hope,  whom  we  thought  was  ready  to  die,  broke  the 
window  and  escaped  over  the  roof  where  a  well  man 
would  have  broken  his  neck." 

She  laughed  at  the  doctor's  way  of  giving  her  this 
information.  He,  too,  like  the  soldier,  looked  at  her 
face  rather  inquisitively,  but  his  glance  fell  back  re- 
pulsed and  his  unformed  suspicion  obtained  no  hold 
upon  his  mind.  She  bade  him  good  afternoon  and 
left. 

While  walking  away  she  examined  her  nervous 
condition.  She  thought  something  must  be  wrong 
as  her  tone  had  drawn  upon  her  the  gaze  of  inspec- 
tion successively  from  two  strangers — evidently  not 
psychologists.  Mental  drill  on  self-possession  was 
going  on  when  she  met  Capt.  McCook,  who  had  been 
promoted  for  gallantry  on  the  field. 

"May  I  have  the  pleasure  of  escorting  you  wher- 
ever you  may  be  going?"  he  asked,  so  losing  his  self- 
control  as  to  render  his  accents  tremulous. 

'  'You  may  and  I  am  glad  to  have  you  do  so, "  she 
gently  replied. 


102  «A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

•I 

Her  tones  seemed  to  say,  '  'The  soul  from  which  we 
come  is'  struggling  for  improvement  and  for  a  wider 
development." 

He  gazed  into  her  blue  eyes,  which  appeared  to 
speak  and  like  the  tones  of  her  voice  to  unfold  purity 
and  purpose. 

"Do  you  know,"  said  he,  "that  the  soul  can  grow 
and  expand,  receive  strength,  polish  and  power  fromi. 
education  in  a  greater  degree  than  the  mind  or  the 
body,  subjecting  both  to  itself?" 

"I  am  no  psychologist,  but  I  hope  it  is  so,  for  ne- 
cessity requires  some  power  to  be  connected  with 
vile  thoughts  of  the  mind  and  weakness  of  the  flesh, 
to  control  them." 

"That  necessity  is  supplied  by  the  soul  and  the 
problem  of  life  can  be  solved,"  said  he  abstractedly. 

"What  is  the  problem  of  life?" 

"Education  of  the  soul,"  was  his  sententious  re- 
sponse. 

'  'How  can  the  soul  be  educated?" 

"The  soul,"  said  he,  "is  the  power  which  operates 
in  the  heart  just  as  the  mind  is  the  power  which  ope- 
rates in  the  brain.  Brain  is  the  thought  producer 
and  heart  is  the  passion  producer.  If  the  soul  be 
truly  educated  it  will  fill  the  heart  with  virtue, 
which,  practiced  exclusively,  solves  the  problem  of 
life." 

"Is  the  soul  physical?"  questioned  she. 

Pausing  a  moment,  he  continued:  "The  physical 
being  is  visibly  affected  by  the  soul.  You  have  but 
to  study  an  angry  countenance  and  a  loving  face,  side 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  103 

by  side,  to  see  that.  The  heart  would  die  if  the  soul 
were  out  of  it.  The  letter  killeth  but  the  spirit 
maketh  alive.  The  soul  is  so  coupled  with  physical 
life  as  to  keep  the  heart  and  brain  sentient  and  active 
until  worn  out  or  destroyed  by  accident,  perversion 
or  disease.  The  soul  is  that  mysterious  thing  called 
life.  It  does  not  reside  out  of  the  body.  It  resides 
in  it.  The  physical  ceasing  to  live,  the  intangible, 
pervading,  essential  and  indestructible  soul  departs, 
freed  from  the  flesh  and  its  vices." 

"Tell  me,  what  is  the  final  destiny  of  the  soul?" 
she  asked. 

"The  Savior  alone  can  answer  you,  I  can  not." 

"Then,"  said  she,  "on  this  point  the  world  must 
trust  alone  to  faith  in  the  poor  Carpenter  of  Naza- 
reth." 

'  'I  do  not  believe  it  will  always  be  so,  for  spiritual 
physiology  will  some  day  be  quite  as  well  understood 
as  physiology  of  the  mind  and  body,  though  science 
is  not  yet  that  far  on  the  highway  to  truth;  then 
Christ's  doctrines  will  be  demonstrated  to  the  senses 
of  the  mind  as  well  as  to  the  faith  of  the  heart.  The 
spirit  is  to  the  mind  and  body  what  electricity  is  to 
the  universe.  No  man  yet  knows  his  own  intangible 
capacity,  nor  the  powers  of  the  air  nor  the  strength 
of  the  incorporeal  nor  the  power  of  moral  force, 
which  are  things  as  much  as  the  material  world." 

They  had  reached  the  boarding-house  of  Lexie 
Hallen's  aunts,  on  Brook  street,  where  Lema  had  se- 
cured rooms  and  meals  by  the  week. 

"I  thank  you,   Captain  McCook,  for  the  pleasure 


104  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

your  suggestions  on  the  soal  have  given  me  and  beg 
to  bid  you  good  afternoon." 

He  had  not  said  one  word  in  behalf  of  himself,  but 
wasted  all  the  precious  walk  and  its  opportunity  in 
airing  favorite  speculations.  Confusion  marked  his 
leave-taking  and  his  lingering  glance  at  her  calm, 
blue  eyes  and  pure  face  laid  bare  the  perturbations 
of  his  own  soul,  which  seemed  not  to  be  a  part,  but 
the  whole,  of  his  physical  being  just  at  that  moment. 

"Lexie,"  said  Lema  at  the  dining  table,  "the  army 
unexpectedly  moves  toward  the  heart  of  Kentucky 
day  after  to-morrow  and  I  must  go  with  it.  Will  you 
help  me  to  get  off." 

"Yes,"  said  Lexie,  "if  you  will  promise  to  take 
care  of  a  Confederate  by  the  name  of  Robert  Hope, 
should  you  ever  find  him  wounded." 

Lema  started  and  blushed  at  the  sudden  mention  of 
his  name,  and  for  the  first  time  seemed  to  feel  the 
true  condition  of  her  heart.  Instantly  she  began  a 
mental  reconnoisance,  and,  with  the  tendency  to  self- 
deception  uppermost,  she  concluded  that  her  blushes 
and  uneasy  demeanor  came  from  nervous  overstrain. 

But  Lexie  was  practical  in  her  observations,  and 
followed  up  the  breach  she  had  accidentally  made 
with  the  statement  that  "Robert  Hope  is  the  noblest, 
bravest,  handsomest  man  on  earth.  I  believe  I  love 
him,  and.  Miss  Sayr,  your  blushes  at  the  mention  of 
his  name  makes  me  think  you  love  him  too.  Now, 
don't  you?  "Where  did  you  ever  see  him?  Tell  us  all 
about  it,"  and  so  the  glib  tongue  of  the  Kentucky 
girl  rattled  away  amid  peals  of  laughter  from  the 
guests  at  the  table. 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  105 

*'0h,  hush,  Lexie,"  said  her  Aunt  Bina,  whose  keen 
glance  had  discovered  Lema's  agitation. 

This  assistance  gave  the  latter's  heart,  which  had 
in  it  none  of  tlie  subtilty  dispensed  in  Eden,  time  to 
recover  from  the  shock  produced  by  Lexie's  love  alert 
suspicions,  and  she  laughingly  replied,  "I  will  tell 
you  all  about  him  if  you  will  go  with  me  till  we  find 
him  wounded." 

"I  will  do  it,  if  Aunt  Bina  will  let  me." 

"Hush,  child,  you  are  too  young  for  such  risks," 
said  her  aunt. 

"O  do  let  me  go,  Aunty,  I  want  to  go  so  bad,  just 
to  help  wounded  rebels  get  away.  Please  let  me  go," 
pleaded  Lexie. 

At  that  moment  a  newsboy  shouted,  "Here's  your 
Extra!     General  Nelson  shot  dead!" 

Consternation  emptied  the  seats  about  the  dining 
table  and  all  rushed  to  the  door.  A  paper  was  bought. 
There  it  all  was !  One  General  had  slain  another  on 
the  same  side  for  personal  insult.  The  big,  bluff, 
brave  soldier,  who,  in  a  hailstorm  of  balls,  had  cursed 
the  stampeded  soldiers  of  Shiloh  and  Richmond, 
died  in  fifteen  minutes  from  a  pistol  ball  fired  on  the 
stairway  of  the  Gait  House. 

All  was  excitement,  hurry  and  anxiety  on  the  first 
of  October,  as  the  left  wing  of  Buell's  army,  under 
the  brave  McDowell  McCook,  took  up  its  march  along 
the  Taylors ville  road,  followed  by  Gilbert  in  the 
center  and  Crittenden  on  the  right,  filling  the  Tay- 
lorsville,  Shelbyville  and  Bardstown  Pikes  with  fifty- 
eight  thousand  soldiers.     Great  clouds  of  dust  rose 


106  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

over  the  way  these  mighty  columns  were  moving  and 
almost  suffocated  the  soldiers,  parched  with  thirst 
and  choked  with  dust. 

In  the  midst  of  the  dust  and  the  tramping  and  the 
confused  hum  of  this  advancing  host,  just  in  the  rear 
of  Rousseau's  fated  division,  Lema  rode  in  her  un- 
pretentious ambulance,  which  was  filled  with  band- 
ages, lint,  medicines  and  wine.  Lexie  was  by  her 
side,  her  aunt  having  yielded  to  Lema's  sweet  per- 
suasion and  the  promise  of  an  early  return  to  Louis- 
ville. She  had  said  to  the  aunts  that  a  battle  was  not 
expected,  that  it  would  only  be  a  trip  through  the 
Bluegrass,  and  that  Lexie  needed  an  outing  for  a 
few  days.  The  aunts  had  conferred  privately,  agree- 
ing that  Miss  Sayr  was  an  angel  of  goodness;  be- 
sides, General  Bright,  Major  and  Mrs.  Paymento  had 
called  to  see  her  and  would  be  along,  and  that  she 
was,  evidently,  high  in  official  favor.  They  had  also 
discovered  that  Captain  McCook  escorted  her  to  the 
house  just  before  the  dreadful  news  of  General  Nel- 
son's death  at  the  hands  of  General  Jeff.  C.  Davis. 
So  Lexie  was  permitted  to  go. 

General  McCook,  ready  to  sacrifice  all  to  glory, 
marched  with  his  staff  at  the  head  of  the  plucky  15th 
Kentucky  Infantry,  destined  by  its  list  of  dead  to 
rank  as  the  Union's  bravest  on  Chaplin's  Hills  of 
blood  and  woe.  The  center  corps  was  in  position 
on  the  evening  of  the  7th.  Then  was  the  oppor- 
tunity for  the  Confederate  attack,  but  it  was  lost. 
That  corps  could  have  been  crushed  before  McCook 
arrived. 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  107 

At  ten  o'clock  of  the  morning  of  the  8th  of  Ken- 
tucky's beautiful  October,  when  the  locusts,  the 
crickets  and  the  grasshopper  were  singing  in  the 
shocked  corn  and  dying  weeds  and  insects  filled  the 
browning  woods  with  stridulous  sounds,  and  ap- 
proaching Indian  summer  in  its  smoky  curtains 
brooded  over  cornfields,  pastures  and  the  broken 
woods  that  skirted  the  banks  of  Chaplin  River's  dead 
and  dried  currents,  McCook's  corps,  Lytle's  brigade 
on  the  right  and  Starkweather  on  the  left,  formed 
with  its  twenty-five  regiments  and  thirty -six  pieces 
of  artillery  on  the  crest  of  the  rugged  hills  that  lay 
behind  the  valley  lands  which  reposed  between  them 
and  the  dry  channel  of  the  river. 

Five  hundred  yards  to  the  right  of  McCook,  Sher- 
idan's Division  of  twelve  regiments  and  twelve  can- 
non occupied  the  wooded  ridges,  swells  and  breaks  in 
front  of  the  Confederate  left,  overlapping  it.  Good- 
ing's four  regiments  and  Wisconsin  battery  shortly 
took  perilous  position  in  McCook's  line.  To  the 
right  of  Sheridan  stood  General  Robert  Mitchell,  with 
eight  regiments  and  three  batteries.  In  close  order 
the  First  Division  arrayed  its  fifteen  regiments  of  in- 
fantry, eighteen  cannon  and  First  Ohio  Cavalry  ready 
to  reinforce  either  wing  or  advance  to  the  attack. 
Five  regiments  and  one  company  of  cavalry  finished 
the  dread  array.  Twenty-two  thousand  seven  hun- 
dred additional  infantry  were  moving  on  the  Leb- 
anon road  only  eight  miles  away,  and  would  arrive 
before  night.  Thus  sixty-four  regiments  of  infantry, 
eighty-two  pieces  of  artillery  and  six  regiments  and 


108  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

one  company  of  cavalry  stood  in  line  of  battle  at  12 
o'clock  M. — thirty-five  thousand  three  hundred  strong, 
with  twenty-two  thousand  seven  hundred  near  at 
hand,  within  two  hours'  quick  march,  that  is  within 
supporting  distance. 

Down  in  the  dry  bed  of  Chaplin  river,  by  the  verge 
of  its  glazed,  still  pools,  a  gray  line  with  bright  bay- 
onets was  formed  under  the  low  projecting  banks. 
A  fine  position  for  defense  against  a  front  attack  but 
a  slaughter  pen  in  the  event  of  a  successful  flank 
movement,  which  could  have  been  easily  made  by  the 
right  wing  of  Gilbert's  corps  or  Crittenden's  ap- 
proaching mass.  The  Confederate  right  wing  was 
under  that  peerless  soldier,  Frank  Cheatham,  and 
composed  of  one  Georgia  and  fourteen  Tennessee 
regiments,  numbering  three  hundred  each,  and  eigh- 
teen cannon.  Buckner  was  in  the  center  with  sixteen 
pieces  of  artillery  and  five  thousand  infantry,  divided 
into  four  brigades;  Anderson's  division  occupied  the 
left,  four  thousand  five  hundred  strong,  with  three 
batteries  of  six  guns  each.  On  the  extreme  right, 
Wharton's  cavalry,  one  thousand  strong,  and  on  the 
left  Wheeler's  twelve  hundred  horsemen  calmly 
awaited  the  onset. 

Thus,  at  noon,  stood  fourteen  thousand  infantry 
with  fifty-two  cannon,  four  hundred  and  fifty  cannon- 
eers and  twenty- two  hundred  horse — sixteen  thou- 
sand six  hundred  and  fifty  soldiers — fronting  thirty- 
five  thousand  three  hundred,  who  were  avoiding  a 
general  engagement  until  Crittenden's  corps  should 
arrive  on  the  field  to  assist  in  pitched  battle  with  the 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY  109 

little  Confederate  army  that  stood  proudly  awaiting" 
the  fray  and  inviting  it. 

One  o'clock  came,  and  no  advance  upon  the  Confed- 
erates! Two  p.  m.  struck  by  the  clocks  in  the 
village  of  Perryville,  and  the  gray  line  emerged  from 
its  cover,  the  right  marching  by  brigades  in  echelon 
quickly  formed  line  of  battle  and  assailed  the  Feder- 
als posted  behind  limestone  walls,  in  thickets,  ra- 
vines, on  broken  heights,  hills  and  precipices,  behind 
trees,  in  skirts  of  woods,  to  the  rear  of  open  fields — 
in  a  position  well  nigh  impregnable. 

The  resistance  the  Confederates  met  was  firm  and 
savage.  Musketry  and  artillery  slew  whole  compa- 
nies at  a  single  discharge!  But  they  pressed  up  to 
the  blazing  muzzles.  Buckner,  under  Hardee's  or- 
ders, advanced,  and,  by  the  daring  of  his  assault  on 
the  enemy's  center,  quite  redeemed  himself  from  that 
big  scare  Grant  gave  him  at  Fort  Donelson,  which 
cost  the  young  Confederacy  its  brightest  jewel  on  the 
waters  and  opened  the  way  for  gunboats  which  soon 
broke  in  twain  the  premature  nation. 

Cheatham  having  become  hotly  engaged,  Bushrod 
Johnson  and  Pat  Cleburne  dashed  with  destructive 
impetuosity  against  the  salient  angle  of  the  enemy's 
line  at  the  crossing  of  Doctors  creek.  Wood,  Brown 
and  Jones  obliqued  to  the  right  with  their  brigades 
and  joined  Cheatham's  left.  Colonel  Sam  Powell 
and  Brigadier  General  Dan  Adams  from  the  Confed- 
erate left  assailed  Sheridan's  division,  and,  diverging 
to  the  right,  united  with  Cleburne.  Wharton's  cav- 
alry charged  with    great    fury,    riding   over   stone 


110  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

walls,  ravines,  fences,  through  woods  and  up  to  Mc- 
Cook's  infantry  on  his  left  flank,  completely  turning 
it.  Wheeler,  on  the  left,  was  aggressive,  daring, 
watchful,  ready  to  charge  at  the  first  sign  of  disor- 
der among  the  foe. 

The  whole  Confederate  line,  thus  united,  amidst 
the  thundering  of  the  artillery  of  both  armies,  moved 
to  the  bloody  attack  with  intense  ardor,  cheers  of  de- 
fiance and  indomitable  pluck.  Cleburne,  Donaldson, 
Steward,  Pov/ell  and  Adams  went  straight  at  the 
salient  and  Sheridan's  left  front. 

Liddell's  brigade,  having  brought  on  the  fight,  was  • 
withdrawn  and  held  in  reserve  until  the  supreme 
moment.  Then  its  commander  wedged  it  between 
Cheatham's  left  and  Brown's  right.  There  Bishop 
Polk  was  leading,  and,  in  the  twilight  that  was  fall- 
ing on  the  scene  and  in  the  dense  smoke  of  battle, 
rode  into  the  disordered  lines  of  the  enemy,  but 
amidst  the  confusion  and  darkness  instantly  escaped. 
Returning  rapidly  to  his  advancing  line,  he  met  Lid- 
dell's solid  brigade.  Pointmg  in  the  direction  whence 
he  came,  he  cried,  "Fire!"  and  an  unbroken  sheet  of 
flame  relit  the  fading  light,  quickly  followed  by  an- 
other; a  third  completed  the  rout.  The  Federals  fled 
in  wild  disorder,  but  under  the  cover  of  night  their 
commanders  reformed  them  one  mile  to  the  rear,  the 
Confederates,  by  reason  of  the  darkness,  having 
ceased  the  pursuit. 

McCook,  like  Lucius  Manlius,  losb  his  baggage. 
His  papers  and  colors  were  also  captured. 

The  Confederates  had  fought  the  battle  without 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  Ill 

support,  two  hundred  miles  from  their  base  of  opera- 
tions, yet,  with  one-fifth  of  their  number  lost,  they 
lit  their  camp-fires  on  the  hard-won  field  and  planted 
their  pickets  in  the  teeth  of  the  concentrating  foe. 

Six  thousand  eight  hundred  and  eighty-four  sol- 
diers lay  stretched  upon  the  earth,  dead  or  mangled; 
three  thousand  one  hundred  and  forty-five  Confeder- 
ates, three  thousand  seven  hundred  and  thirty-nine 
Federals. 

"I  was  badly  whipped,"  said  McCook  on  oath  be- 
fore the  Buell  Commission,  which  exonerated  that 
gentlemanly  soldier  from  blame. 

"It  was  done  in  sight  of  Gilbert's  whole  corps." 
Then  the  Confederates  turned  and  whipped  half  of 
the  latter  within  hearing  of  Crittenden's  advance, 
seeking  the  field  not  so  fast  as  Blucher  nor  so  slow 
as  Grouchy.  Such  daring!  Massena  fought  not 
more  recklessly  at  Saragossa  noi;  Ney  at  Waterloo. 
The  boldness  of  the  General  who  ordered  the  attack 
excelled  Napoleon's  presumption  in  his  first  cam- 
paign in  Italy.  For  absolute  risk,  for  perfect  faith 
in  capacity  to  do  the  impossible,  for  pure,  unquailing 
courage  that  mounted  with  the  occasion,  this  de- 
pleted army  of  Confederates  will  live  in  history,  its 
praises  sung  by  pens  of  poets  and  its  valor  furnish- 
ing fittest  themes  to  grace  Kentucky's  romantic 
pages. 


XIV. 

BY  five  o'clock  Rousseau,  flanked,  was  falling' 
back,  Jackson  of  Kentucky  lay  dead  among  his 
cannon,  Lytle,  wounded,  was  a  prisoner,  and  thou- 
sands, sound  and  well  at  sunrise,  were  swathed  in 
blood,  yet  Lema  Sayr's  ambulance  hovered  upon  the 
rear  while  she  ministered  to  the  wounded  sent 
thither. 

The  scene  was  awful,  the  cannon  and  musketry 
deafening.  Every  face  that  passed  in  retreat  and 
every  courier  who  sought  Buell  with  dispatches  told 
of  defeat,  disaster  and  ruin. 

The  brave  woman  marked  it  all,  but  resolutely 
stuck  to  her  mission.  She  bandaged  the  limbs  of 
scores  and  staunched  great  wounds  with  lint.  Water 
and  wine,  while  there  was  a  drop  to  drink,  were 
handed  from  the  ambulance  by  Lexie. 

Night  and  Crittenden  had  come  at  last,  but  the  de- 
fiant Confederates  were  bivouackmg  among  the  slain 
and  picketing  within  the  sound  of  low  and  cautious 
speech. 

Lema  Sayr  reported  the  exhaustion  of  her  supplies 
to  General  Bright,  who  commanded  Crittenden's 
crack  division,  and  he  promptly  resupplied  her  am- 
bulance.    At    midnight    she    approached    the   field 

112 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  113 

again,  finding  here  and  there  a  wounded  soldier  who 
had  limped  to  the  rear  or  who  was  being  carried  from 
the  field  on  a  stretcher,  from  which  the  drops  of 
blood  dripped,  dripped,  like  drops  of  rain  dripping 
from  eves  after  a  storm. 

She  said,  "Lexie,  you  are  a  fine  little  rebel,  you 
have  helped  nie  so  bravely." 

"Thank  you,"  said  Lexie;  "now  won't  you  go 
through  the  pickets  and  help  the  poor  rebels  some?" 

The  throes  of  night  were  bringing  forth  the  birth 
of  morning.  A  lusty  game  cock  sounded  his  brave 
notes  from  the  barn  of  the  white  house  of  which  Mc- 
Cook  speaks  in  his  report  of  the  battle,  and  Lema,  in 
reply  to  Lexie,  said,  '  'I  will  as  soon  as  day  breaks 
and  we  can  do  so." 

"But  they  will  be  fighting  again,"  sadly  returned 
Lexie,  whose  young  heart,  from  sight  of  blood,  had 
grown  sick. 

The  conversation  ceased  a  moment  as  the  waning 
moon  descended  in  shrouds  toward  tree  tops  and 
broken  outlines  of  that  rugged  region.  Silence  and 
remaining  still  caused  Lexie,  exhausted  as  she  was, 
to  fall  asleep.  Lema  drew  her  head  upon  her  lap 
and  prayed  to  the  God  of  battles  for  peace,  for  no 
more  bloodshed,  while  the  child  woman  slumbered. 

In  this  position,  the  morning  uncurtained  the  field, 
first  looking  with  its  gray  eyes  into  the  faces  of  the 
dead  and  then  wrapping  the  wounded  with  its  bright- 
ening mantle. 

The  Confederates  had  withdrawn!  The  Federals 
moved  to  the  brows  of  the  silent  ridges  overlooking 

8 


114  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

Chaplin's  dry  channel  and  still  pools,  on  which  the 
trees,  inverted,  mirrored  themselves.  Field  glasses 
were  at  the  eyes  of  Generals,  Aids  and  Colonels  scan- 
ning the  hills,  pastures,  woods,  farm  houses  and 
roads  beyond. 

Lema  and  Lexie  drove  quickly  up  to  an  eminence. 
The  cavalry,  away  to  their  left  in  a  fog  bank  of 
smoke  and  mist,  were  skirmishing  with  Wharton, 
who  was  covering  the  Confederate  retreat.  A  squad- 
ron of  Kentucky  troopers,  which  had  reinforced  him 
during  the  night,  was  maneuvering  for  display  on  the 
ridges  to  the  southward. 

"Look!"  cried  Lexie.  "See  those  three  Union  sol- 
diers charging  on  two  Confederates  in  the  bed  of  the 
river  by  that  big  pool?  Yonder,"  pointing  with  ex- 
citement to  the  movement. 

Lema  placed  her  strong  glasses  to  her  eyes  and 
looked  intently.  Lexie  strained  her  bright  eyes  upon 
the  movements  of  the  combatants.  A  hand-to-hand 
combat  was  about  to  take  place. 

Robert  Hope  and  a  captain  had  lingered  in  the  dry 
hed  of  Chaplin  river  near  a  big  pool  of  water,  for  a 
parting  shot,  while  Wharton  was  slowly  retiring  up 
the  slopes,  firing  as  he  went.  Colonel  Lail  saw  from 
an  elevation  the  defiant  position  of  the  two  gray  Ken- 
tucky troopers. 

Turning  to  a  lieutenant  and  an  aide-de-camp  who 
had  joined  him  in  the  reconnaissance  he  said,  "Let 
us  pick  up  those  daring  fellows."  Down  the  slope 
and  across  the  valley  they  dashed.  When  within 
.eighty   yards   of  the  river,  concealed  by  its  banks 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  115 

from  the  Confederates,  they  came  to  a  dirt  road  run- 
ning parallel  with  the  river  and  between  fences. 
Leaping  the  fence  next  to  them,  they  turned  to  the 
left  and  in  a  few  flying  moments  reached  the  point 
where  the  road  turned  down  the  sloping  banks  to  the 
river. 

Robert  Hope  had  ridden  to  the  top  of  the  river 
bank  and  saw  the  three  gayly  decked  horsemen  gal- 
loping across  the  valley  a  few  hundred  yards  to  his 
left. 

"Captain,"  said  he,  "we  will  fight  them  here,  they 
are  only  three  to  two,"  and  immediately  took  his  po- 
sition to  the  right  of  the  road  and  faced  toward  the 
rapidly  approaching  Federals. 

The  Confederate  captain  quickly  spurred  up  the 
sloping  bank  and  reined  his  gallant  steed  in  the  cen- 
ter of  the  road  a  few  yards  to  the  left  and  slightly  to 
the  rear  of  Robert  Hope.  They  looked  each  other  in 
the  face  for  tokens  of  determination  and  exchanged 
those  significant  glances  which  flash  from  gallant 
eyes  Avhen  noble  deeds  are  to  be  done.  Their  trusty 
pistols,  with  three  chambers  unexpended,  clicked, 
and  the  beautiful  Kentucky  horses,  on  which,  like 
Knights  of  old,  they  sat  to  receive  the  impending 
attack,  reared  their  23roud  heads  and  uneasily  pranced 
beneath  their  riders.  Around  the  right  angle,  where 
the  road  turned  squarely  to  the  river,  whirled  the 
brave  Federals  in  a  bunch. 

"O,"  cried  Lexie,  "what  splendid  fellows!  I  am  so 
excited!" 

Lema  kept  her  glasses  carefully  to  her  eyes  and 


316  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

held  her  breath.  Her  lips  quivered,  and,  in  low 
tones,  "O  God,  it  is  Robert  Hope!"  escaped  from  the 
depths  of  her  soul. 

Qolonel  Lail  singled  him  out  and  fired  within  fifteen 
paces.  Robert  Hope  returned  the  fire  and  spurred 
his  excited  steed  to  closer  quarters,  while  the  un- 
quailing  Colonel  advanced  to  meet  him.  Again  the 
leveled  pistols'  deadly  crack  followed  so  closely  that 
Robert  Hope's  was  barely  distinguishable  as  first. 
He  had  shot  the  Colonel's  left  epaulette  from  his 
shoulder  and  a  bullet  had  clipped  the  rim  of  his  own 
cavalry  hat  just  above  the  silver  star,  at  which  the 
Union  Colonel  shot  as  it  flashed  in  the  commotion. 
The  third  aim  was  taken  within  three  deadly  paces, 
and,  as  Colonel  Lail  saw  the  steady,  liquid  black  eye 
of  Robert  Hope  flash  along  the  barrel  of  his  revolver, 
he  knew  his  time  had  come,  unless  he  surrendered. 

Throwing  his  hands  aloft,  with  his  beautiful  silver- 
mounted  pistol  glistening  over  his  head,  he  shouted, 
"I  surrender!     I'm  your  prisoner!" 

Their  horses'  bodies  had  lapped.  Their  left  knees 
were  touching. 

"Hand  me  your  pistol,"  demanded  Robert  Hope, 
slightly  lowering  his  own. 

Colonel  Lail  appeared  to  obey,  but,  while  pretend- 
ing to  hand  the  pistol  to  his  adversary,  seized  him  by 
the  left  collar  of  his  gray  coat  with  the  left  hand, 
thrusting  the  silver-mounted  pistol  under  his  left 
arm  fired  upward  and  the  powder  burned  the  face 
which,  but  a  moment  ago,  had  relaxed  its  rigidness 
to  a  foe  begging  for  quarter.    He  saw  the  gleam  of 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  117 

contempt  blaze  from  the  maddened  eyes  of  his  gen- 
erous antagonist  whom  he  had  missed.  Lail's  heart 
sank  within  him.  The  desperation  born  of  unfair 
advantage  foiled  seized  his  soul  and  with  redoubled 
strength  he  tried  to  hurl  his  adversary  to  the  ground. 
But  the  fates  were  against  him !  Robert  Hope  was 
a  skillful  Kentucky  rider  not  easily  unhorsed.  His 
pistol  was  at  the  temple  of  his  wily  foe;  loud  rang 
the  last  shot  and  Colonel  Lail  fell  dead  from  the 
black  stallion  which  had  so  proudly  borne  him  into 
the  fight.  Lail's  head  caught,  as  he  fell,  in  the  reins 
of  Hope's  now  unmanageable  steed,  which  whirled 
and  dragged  the  body  into  the  pool  below.  There 
stood  the  Confederate  captain,  knee  deep  in  water, 
with  empty  pistol,  strangling  into  surrender  the 
aide-de-camp  whom  he  had  seized  and  thrown  from 
his  horse  during  their  desperate  struggle.  The  lieu- 
tenant had  been  carried  by  his  pampered  horse, 
which,  uncontrollable,  fled  at  the  first  fire  to  the 
main  road;  but  the  firing  having  ceased,  he  urged  his 
frightened  horse  forward.  It  was  too  late!  The 
Confederate  captain  covered  him  with  his  empty  pis- 
tol and  Robert  Hope  shouted,  "Surrender  I" 

The  heart-broken  lieutenant,  not  knowing  their  pis- 
tols were  empty,  submitted  and  was  disarmed,  say- 
ing, with  tears  in  his  voice,  "You  have  killed  my 
Colonel!" 

Quickly  the  Confederate  captain  mounted  and  com- 
pelled the  aid  to  do  likewise.  Hope,  unbuckling  the 
gold-hilted  sword  fi-om  the  body  of  the  dead  colonel, 
remounted  his  war  horse  and  they  galloped  away  with 


118  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

the  two  prisoners,  their  horses  and  arms  as  trophies 
of  soldierly  prowess.  Colonel  Lail  lay  face  upward 
in  the  worn  channel  of  Chaplin  river,  and  his  black 
stallion,  wildly  neighing,  flew  over  the  adjacent 
fields  to  which  he  had  escaped  when  his  master  fell. 
As  Hope  and  his  companion,  with  their  prisoners, 
rose  into  full  view  on  the  hither  banks  of  the  blood- 
stained stream,  that  part  of  the  Union  army  which 
had  witnessed  the  duel  cheered  their  gallantry  and 
Kentucky's  typical  Confederates  waved  their  hats  in 
courteous  response  and  passed  out  of  sight  over 
Chaplin's  hills,  which  were  now  at  peace. 


XV. 

LEMA  SAYR  said,  "What  a  cruel  war  this  is,  but 
what  a  famous  one  it  will  be  in  history!  I  did 
not  believe,  in  my  New  England  home,  the  Southern 
people  were  so  kind,  brave  or  just.  I  thought  them 
semi- barbarians.  I  see  the  mistake  of  my  people! 
Come,  Lexie,  let  us  go  quickly  to  the  wounded. 
These  twenty  minutes  have  been  as  many  hours  to 
me." 

Lexie  exclaimed,  "My  heart  stood  still  while  they 
fought!     O!    But  I  am  proud  of  the  rebels!" 

"Hush,  dear  child,"  said  Lema,  and  they  hurried 
away  to  a  knot  of  soldiers  who  were  heaping  up  the 
dead  for  burial.  The  wounded,  blue  and  gray,  were 
to  be  seen  intermingled  in  every  direction.  Some 
were  restlessly  rising  on  their  elbows,  then  falling 
back;  others  were  plunging  about  apparently  without 
pain;  most  of  these  were  dying.  Every  few  minutes 
one  of  them  would  be  still !  He  had  begun  the  sol- 
emn round  of  endless  silence !  Cries  for  water,  help, 
"O  come  quick,"  were  heard  on  every  hand,  and 
Lema  and  brave  little  Lexie  were  here,  there,  every- 
where, with  wine,  lint,  bandages,  camphor,  water. 
Lexie  saw  that  Lema  made  no  discrimination  between 
the  wounded,  whether  in  crimsoned  gray  or  blood- 

119 


120  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

blotted  blue,  and  she  vied  with  her  Northern  sister 
in  her  "blue  compliments,"  as  she  afterwards  called 
her  assistance  to  the  Federal  wounded. 

Lexie's  aunts  saw  the  daily  papers  the  next  morn- 
ing after  the  battle  and  immediately  departed  for  the 
field.  They  arrived  at  the  improvised  field  hospitals 
during  the  night  of  the  ninth  and  in  great  anxiety 
sought  for  Lexie  and  Miss  Sayr.  They  found  them 
in  a  big  barn  which  was  full  of  the  wounded,  and  the 
aunts  clasped  Lexie  in  their  arms,  almost  smothering 
her  with  kisses.  They  greeted  Miss  Sayr  with  silent 
affection  and  a  little  reckless  handshaking;  but  the 
pale  faces  of  the  sufferers  under  the  weird  lights  that 
flitted  about  the  barn  floor  deterred  them  from  great- 
er demonstrations.  They  watched  the  work  of  the 
nurses  for  a  moment  and  then  said  to  Lema,  '  'Let  us 
help." 

She  replied,  "Certainly.  Here,  you  can  help 
tiow,"  pointing  to  a  wounded  soldier  just  brought  in. 

The  two  aunts  took  him  in  charge  and  soon  he  was 
resting  easy. 

Though  Lexie  and  her  aunts  were  Southern  to  the 
core,  humanitarian  ism  had  filled  their  hearts  too  and 
poured  its  spirit  into  their  receptive  natures.  They 
"worked  together  for  good,"  with  swift  caution,  deft 
fingers,  staunchingi  wounds,  quenching  thirst,  ap- 
peasing hunger,  while  speaking  gentle  words  to  the 
sufferers. 

Oh,  how  sweet  the  words  of  woman,  when  home  or 
humanity  is  the  theme! 

As  they  softly  ministered  to  him,  the  poor  Confed- 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  '       121 

erate,  covered  with  wounds,  thought  of  his  far-away 
Southern  home  among  the  prairie  flowers  of  Texas; 
of  Louisiana's  broad  verandas  clustered  with  vines 
and  trembling  with  the  oriole's  melodies  and  the 
mocking  bird's  song;  of  the  anxious  inquiries  for  him 
his  comrades  would  make;  of  the  retreating  army  in 
whose  brave  ranks,  thinned  by  bullets,  he  had  been 
stricken  down;  of  the  inhospitable  Northern  prison 
that  opened  its  black  mouth  to  swallow  up  his  exist- 
ence: and,  as  these  women  silently  prayed,  the  gal- 
lant Union  soldier,  with  broken  limbs  and  pierced 
body,  surrounded  by  friends,  saw  a  sweet  vision;  he 
saw  the  broad  plains  of  Illinois,  Indiana's  waving 
wheat  fields  or  Ohio's  blue  lakes.  He  was  back  at 
home !  But  these  women,  intently  laboring,  absorbed 
and  tender,  only  beheld  their  wounds  or  heard  their 
groans  and  went  on  with  their  labor  of  love,  which, 
though  often  unrequited  here,  will  be  their  immortal 
plea  for  redemption. 

The  next  morning,  leaving  Lexie  and  her  aunts  in 
charge  of  the  mangers  where  lay  the  wounded  whose 
souls  One  born  in  a  manger  died  to  save,  Lema  went 
to  the  white  house,  designated  by  McCook  in  his  offi- 
cial report,  to  see  if  she  might  be  useful  there.  On 
the  parlor  floor  moaned  twenty  or  thirty  wounded. 
Union  and  Confederate,  Their  mingled  blood  had 
gathered  in  little  pools  on  the  carpet  and  the  ruddy 
drops  sprinkled  the  door  sill  and  made  it  slippery. 
Convulsed  humanity  was  then  pouring  out  tears  and 
prayers,  while  contending  Americans  were  mingling 
their  shed  blood  on   the  altar  of  opinion;  but  the 


122  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

blood  of  our  heroes,  commingled  on  the  fields  of 
our  civil  war,  at  last  mounted  the  throne  of  Liberty 
and  gave  it  eternal  life. 

She  looked  about  the  room  with  her  practiced  eye. 

''Captain  McCook!"  she  exclaimed  in  alarm,  with 
tender,  trembling  voice,  "are  you  hurt  badly?" 

His  bloodless  face  indicated  an  affirmative  answer 
plainer  than  words  could  express.  She  knelt  by  his 
side  and  smoothed  back  the  black  hair  that  strayed 
over  his  white  forehead.  He  looked  into  her  sympa- 
thetic eyes  and  tried  to  mirror  his  spirit  upon  her 
pure  soul,  but  she  deflected  the  picture  and  returned 
his  gaze  with  gentle  humanity  and  stood  before  his 
eye  of  love,  panoplied  with  the  recollection  of  anoth- 
er. She  looked  carefully  to  the  heavy  bandages 
which  wrapped  his  powerful  thigh  and  dampened  the 
cloth  that  covered  the  contusion  on  his  left  cheek. 
She  poured  from  her  silver  flask,  into  a  crate-like 
cup,  a  draught  of  wine,  and,  gently  raising  his  head 
with  her  hand,  not  now  so  soft  as  when  she  left  her 
New  England  home,  placed  the  cup  to  his  lips  and  he 
drank  of  it.  The  love  in  his  heart  overcame  all  pain, 
drove  from  his  mind  every  thought  of  his  mishap  and 
struggled  in  spite  of  all  to  his  lips, 

*  'I  love  you,  Lema  Sayr,  and  hope  to  die  of  these 
wounds  if  you  do  not  return  it,"  said  he,  looking  into 
her  face  with  reckless  tenderness  and  a  threat  that 
made  her  draw  away  and  her  heart  tremble. 

She  could  say  nothing,  no,  not  even  for  truth's 
sake,  for  the  perilous  stuff  of  which  delicious  or  de- 
mon dreams  are  made  and  out  of  which  love  builds, 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  123 

unbidden  and  unnoted,  its  mansion  in  the  soul, 
weighed  upon  her  heart  and  confused  its  impres- 
sions begun  without  warning  in  Shiloh's  church  and 
almost  finished  to  disclosure  on  Chaplin's  hills  of  ob- 
servation, whence  the  day  before  she  had  seen  with 
terror  and  fascination  the  famous  war  duel  of  Ken- 
tucky. 

"Answer  me,  I  am  resigned!  Only  tell  me  the 
truth  that  I  may  know  the  truth,"  said  the  faint 
voice  of  the  sinking  soldier,  the  reaction  from  the 
shock  of  wounds  having  been  checked  by  this  sud- 
den display  of  feeling. 

'•I  will  answer  you  at  Louisville  "  said  she,  for  the 
thought  that  anticipated  favor  would  nerve  him  to 
live  if  he  loved  her  truly  and  aid  his  recovery,  had 
had  time  to  enter  her  mind,  and  for  that  reason  she 
avoided  his  present  importunity. 

"Thank  you,"  said  he,  "I  will  live  till  then  'en- 
larging upon  all  the  fair  effects  of  future  hopes.'  " 

Now  was  the  time  to  withdraw,  and,  running  the 
gauntlet  of  several  pairs  of  soldiers'  eyes  who  had 
heard  snatches  of  the  conversation,  she  precipitately 
left  the  room,  and,  in  trembling  doubt  and  misery, 
with  heavy  step  retraced  her  way  to  Lexie  and  her 
aunts. 

The  surgeon  general  had  ordered  all  the  wounded, 
able  to  bear  it,  to  be  moved  to  Louisville,  and  the 
work  of  preparation  was  already  begun  when  she  re- 
turned. 

She  knew  Captain  McCook  would  receive  great 
care,  for  already  his  name  was  on  the  rolls  of  fame 


124  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

at  Washington,  sent  thither  for  promotion  because  of 
valorous  deeds  done  on  the  field. 

Next  morning  wagons,  ambulances,  horses,  car- 
riages, buggies,  in  a  long  line,  took  up  the  march  for 
the  beautiful  city  of  the  falls.  Lema  and  her  assist- 
ants camped  with  the  wounded  until  the  last  night 
before  reaching  Louisville.  Then  they  hurried  thith- 
er to  prepare  for  their  reception. 


XVI. 

PENN  GRABBE  left  "Colonel"  Patter  and  Pate 
Wolf  in  the  woods  of  Branch  county,  to  which 
they  had  flown  from  Big  Hill  the  previous  August, 
and  made  his  way  through  Ohio  and  Indiana  to  Lou- 
isville, arriving  at  the  latter  place  October  14th. 

Major  Paymento  was  found  at  his  headquarters 
near  to  Port  Hill,  and  a  somewhat  stormy  scene 
ensued  between  him  and  Grabb6  when  the  latter  pre- 
sented his  third  itemized  account  for  recruits  and  ex- 
penses, direct  and  incidental.  'The  honest  old  Mas- 
sachusetts paymaster  had  grown  incredulous  since 
Grabbe  had  last  seen  him.  Experience  had  taught 
him  that  even  Union  men  would  cheat  the  Govern- 
ment, and  that  the  spirit  of  speculation,  bold  and 
shameless,  had  filled  bureaucracy  at  Washington 
with  its  scandals  and  with  its  temptations  had  lured 
field  and  staff  officials  into  peculation. 

*  'I  will  not  allow  the  Government  to  pay  you  twen- 
ty-three thousand  dollars  for  your  pretended  'inci- 
dental expenses,'  nor  will  I  allow  seven  dollars  a  day 
for  wagons,  even  if  every  woman  in  Kentucky,  who 
is  not  already  one,  should  turn  to  be  a  rebel.  Be- 
sides, the  Government  should  no  longer  tolerate  a 
contract  which  places  men  and  live  stock  on  the  same 
footing,"  said  Major  Paymento  to  Penn  Grabb^. 

125 


126  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

The  latter  sat  self-poised  while  the  old  Major  fret- 
ted in  tone,  and  emphasized  with  "noise  and  emica- 
tion"  his  last  expressions,  but,  when  he  ceased  and 
the  air  of  the  room  was  cleared  of  its  blue  tinge, 
Grabb6  said,  in  injured  tones,  but  with  the  greatest 
apparent  kindness,  "I  want  nothing  from  my  Gov- 
ernment, Major  Paymento,  which  is  not  right!  Here 
are  the  affidavits  of  'Colonel'  Patter,  Fate  Wolf,  Eph 
Soaks  and  other  good  and  reliable  loyal  citizens  of 
Branch  county,  proving  every  item  of  my  account  to 
be  just,  due  and  unpaid.  Yet  I  will  not  insist  on  my 
rights.  If  the  Government  needs  it  worse  than  I  do, 
I  will  give  you  a  clear  receipt  here  and  now  and  re- 
fuse to  take  one  cent." 

"O,  well,  I  did  not  mean  that,"  said  Major  Pay- 
mento. 

'  'But  whether  you  meant  it  or  not,  your  language 
touched  a  tender  spot  and  I  now  decline  to  take  one 
cent  of  this  account." 

The  old  Major  thought  surely  he  had  unjustly 
judged  this  hard-working  friend  of  the  Government 
and  proposed  to  re-examine  his  accounts  and  do  what 
was  right. 

Grabbe  said,  "Well,  just  to  please  you,  Major,  not 
that  I  want  a  cent  of  this  account,  you  may  do  as  you 
like,"  and  took  his  departure,  agreeing,  however,  to 
return  next  morning  for  final  adjustment. 

Hotel  bills  were  high  in  the  city,  speculation  hav- 
ing put  them,  with  everything  else,  up  to  "war 
prices,"  and  Penn  Grabbe's  prudence  led  him  to  seek 
lodgings  in  a  boarding  house.     He  was  told  that  the 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  127 

Misses  Hallen,  on  South  Brook  street,  kept  one  of 
the  best  at  very  reasonable  rates.  Thither  he  went, 
on  the  same  evening  that  Lema  Sayr,  Lexie  and  her 
aunts  arrived  from  the  field  of  Perryville. 

General  Bright  and  Mrs.  Paymento  were  calling 
and  Grabbe  quietly  remained  in  the  reception  room, 
awaiting  their  leave-taking. 

Lema  was  relating,  in  the  unvarnished  language  of 
New  England,  the  incidents  of  the  great  battle.  She 
dwelt  on  Lexie's  courage,  judgment,  kindness,  skill 
and  spirit.  But,  turning  particularly  to  General 
Bright,  she  said,  "She  is  a  strong  little  rebel,  though, 
and  as  honest  in  that  belief  as  I  am  in  mine.  Gen- 
eral, I  hardly  understand  that;  do  you?" 

"Yes,"  said  he,  "it  is  as  natural  as  the  unity  of  the 
suitable  or  the  love  of  woman  for  the  daring.  Na- 
ture, blood,  interest,  association  and  sympathy  have 
made  the  best  Southern  people  one,  and  Lexie  could 
not  help  being  a  rebel  were  she  to  try." 

"That  is  so,"  said  Mrs.  Paymento,  "for  I  have 
been  thrown  of  late  with  Nashville  ladies,  who  are 
refined,  educated,  charming,  but  they  are  the  most 
intense  rebels.  It  is  a  pity  to  kill  men  born  of  such 
women,  for  like  mother  like  son  the  world  over.  I 
can  scarcely  forgive  General  McCook,  brave  as  he  is, 
for  wanting  to  burn  that  beautiful  city,  because  its 
women  were  intense  rebels,  and  then  retreat  north. 
This  is  not  a  war  of  treason,  and  he  knows  it.  It  is 
a  war  of  politics  brought  on  by  sectional,  selfish  and 
quarreling  politicians  and  cranky  philanthropists. 
Everybody  on  both  sides  is  for  republican  govern- 


128  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

ment,  except  bounty  jumpers,  pension  agitators, 
speculators  and  demagogues;  and  they  would  be  for 
George  the  Third  himself  to  gratify  their  cupidity. 
I  wish  it  would  end  with  all  the  States  back  in  the 
Union  so  the  respectability  and  courage  of  the  South 
could  have  a  fair  chance  free  from  the  burden  of 
slavery. " 

"Ah,"  said  General  Bright,  laughing,  "the  same 
old  result!  .  Whenever  a  Northern  woman  goes  South 
and  gets  acquainted  with  the  ladies  she  becomes  an 
enthusiast  over  their  accomplishments  and  at  once  a 
Southern  sympathizer." 

"I  do  sympathize  with  that  noble  people,  even  if 
they  are  in  the  wrong." 

"But  they  are  not  in  the  wrong,"  chimed  in  Lexie. 

"Now,  you  see,  Mrs.  Paymento,  you  are  giving  aid 
and  comfort  to  treason,"  cried  General  Bright  in 
great  cheerfulness,  laughing  merrily. 

"Come  here,  you  darling,  they  shall  not  tease  me 
or  you  either,"  said  Mrs.  Paymento,  drawing  Lexie 
to  her  side  and  caressingly  adding,  "You  waited  on 
the  Union  wounded  at  Perry ville,  and  Miss  Sayr  says 
you  did  good  service  too,  and  you  did,  did  you  not?" 

"Yes,  I  paid  lots  of  blue  compliments,  lots  more 
than  gray  ones." 

"Why  did  you  do  that?"  asked  Mrs.  Paymento. 

"Because  there  were  more  of  them,"  returned 
Lexie,  casting,  at  the  same  time,  a  keen  twinkle 
toward  General  Bright. 

"Never  mind,  Lexie!  Never  mind,  Lexie,"  said 
the  General,  rising  to  go,  '  'we  will  get  even  with  you 
yet." 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  129 

"0,  General,  you  ought  to  have  seen  that  duel  be- 
tween two  Confederates  and  three  Yankees." 

"How  did  it  end?"  he  inquired. 

"Humph!  The  rebels  whipped,  of  course.  Just 
get  Miss  Sayr  to  tell  you  about  it.  It  was  equal  to 
the  fight  in  Ivanhoe.  One  of  the  rebels  fought  like 
the  Black  Knight.  He  had  red  hair,  though.  I  am 
going  to  call  him  the  Red  Knight.  Miss  Sayr  was 
saying  something  to  herself  all  the  time  during  the 
duel.  I  believe  she  was  praying,  for  I  heard  her 
say,  'Oh  God, '  as  if  her  heart  were  breaking.  I  was 
excited  to  death!  I  was  so  afraid  that  I  wouldn't  get 
to  see  it  all,  and  that  the  rebels  would  get  killed!  O! 
when  one  of  them  threw  up  his  hands,  dropped  them 
again,  and  they  seized  each  other,  I  thought  I  would 
die  of  excitement!  Fights  in  novels  are  nothing! 
That  excitement  was  ecstatic!" 

General  Bright  stood  as  one  riveted  to  the  spot 
during  Lexie's  rapid  description.  Lema's  color 
changed  and  mounted  with  red  flags  to  her  temples; 
all  looked  deeply  attentive.  To  avoid  any  more  of  it, 
Lema  said,  "General,  I  will  give  you  a  full  descrip- 
tion of  it  when  my  nerves  get  settled." 

"Thank  you,"  returned  he.  "We  must  be  going, 
Mrs.  Paymento,"  and  they  withdrew  with  that  cour- 
tesy which  attends  natural  refinement. 

"Who  is  the  gentleman  in  the  sitting  room?"  in- 
quired Aunt  Bina. 

"I  don't  know,"  said  the  servant  boy,  Ned;  "he 
didn't  give  me  no  cyard. " 

Aunt  Bina    went  to  see,  and  soon  Penn  Grabb^, 

9 


]30  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

preceded  by  Ned,  passed  up  to  a  room  on  the  third 
floor.  At  supper  Grabb6  kept  quiet,  but  observant. 
Next  morning  he  could  no  longer  forego  his  penchant 
to  ask  questions,  and,  after  putting  a  good  many 
astonishing  interrogatories  to  those  who  sat  in  easy 
ear  shot,  finally,  elevating  his  tone,  asked  Lexie, 
"Who  is  your  sweetheart?" 

"He  is  a  man  who  don't  ask  questions,"  returned 
Lexie  in  the  most  nonchalant  way  to  the  great  morti- 
fication of  her  aunts,  who,  though  now  poor,  were 
beautifully  educated  and  possessed  refined  manners. 

Lema  laughed  a  little  to  turn  the  wire  edge  of 
Lexie's  answer,  but  thought,  '  'He  deserved  it. " 

Grabb6  awkwardly  arose  from  the  table,  but  lin- " 
gered  while  asking  some  wholly  useless  information 
as  a  ruse  to  cover  his  retreat. 

The  ladies  laughed,  chatted  and  kindly  aided  him 
to  get  away  with  the  best  grace  possible. 

"Lexie,  you  naughty  girl,"  said  Aunt  Bina,  "you 
should  treat  every  one  with  courtesy." 

"But,  auntie,  how  could  I  stand  him  asking  you  a 
long  rigamarole  of  questions  about  our  family  and 
personal  affairs?" 

"But,  dear,  he  did  it  innocently;  to  make  conver 
;sation;  just  to  be  entertaining." 

"No,  he  didn't,"  said  Lexie;  "he  was  gratifying  his 
Yankee  curiosity,  and  nothing  else,  at  the  risk  of  de- 
■stroying  everybody's  appetite  for  breakfast,"  and 
ithen  she  petulantly  ran  out  of  the  dining  room.  In 
;a  few  minutes,  her  voice,  soft  and  full,  was  heard 
from  the  upper  hall,  singing: 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  131 

"In  the  land  of  sun  and  flowers, 

His  head  lies  pillowed  low; 
No  more  he'll  cheer  the  Southern  hearts, 
O!  ZoUicoffer,  O!" 

Lema  said,  "Did  you  ever  hear  such  pathos  in  a 
human  voice?" 

The  song  died  away  and  all  disappeared  to  their 
rooms  or  duties. 

Little  did  that  family  know  of  the  impending  trou- 
ble then  gathering  about  their  unprotected  heads. 

On  the  ninth  of  the  preceding  July,  '  'Boil"  Bridges 
was  informed  that  the  escape  of  Robert  Hope  took 
place  the  night  two  maiden  ladies  and  a  young  girl 
had  entered  the  hospital  on  his  passport.  He  suspect- 
ed, from  that  ■  circumstance,  they  had  aided  the  pris- 
oner. In  order  to  be  sure  of  his  victims,  however, 
he  had  sent  for  a  practiced  spy  and  also  a  pro- 
fessional informer,  and  told  them  to  work  up  the 
case.  But  the  sudden  irruption  of  Morgan's  Confed- 
erate Cavalry,  nine  hundred  strong,  suspended  de- 
tective operations  and  turned  the  attention  of  "Boil" 
Bridges  to  weightier  matters.  He  began  telegraph- 
ing at  once  to  Lincoln,  Buell,  Stanton  and  subordi- 
nates everywhere  for  help.  For  convenience,  the 
choice  thoughts  of  his  dispatches  are  condensed  and 
are  here  presented  in  chronological  order: 

"Louisville,  July  10,  1862. 
President  Lincoln: 

Kentucky  will  be  overrun!  Morgan  has  invaded  the  State 
with  10,000  men!  All  the  rebels  will  join  him!  The  State  will 
be  desolated !  Send  reinforcements!  I  have  only  four,  thousand 
available  troops.  B.  Bridges." 


132  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

"Louisville,  July  12,  1862. 
Secretm-y  Stanton: 

Morgan  whipped  our  troops  at  Lebanon.  Louisville  is  in  dan- 
ger! Send  cannon  and  troops!  If  I  had  enough  troops  I  could 
hold  him  straight.  I  am  not  excited;  the  danger  is  really  aw- 
ful!   The  rebel  citizens  are  laughing  at  us!         B.  Bridges." 

"Louisville,  July  14,  1862. 
A.  Lincoln,  President,  d-c: 

What  do  you  intend  to  do?  The  rebels  are  thicker  than  Fal- 
staff's  blackberries.  Morgan  robbed  a  bank!  Burnt  a  bridge! 
He  is  murdering  and  stealing  everywhere!  His  force  increases; 
the  villain  will  capture  all  my  scattered  troops.  For  Gods  sake, 
send  troops.  B.  Bridges." 

"Washington,  D.  C,  July  14,  1862. 
Oen.  JSalleck: 

They  are  having  a  stampede  over  in  Kentucky.  It  reminds 
me  of  a  joke.     I  will  tell  you  the  next  time  I  see  you . 

A.  Lincoln." 

"Louisville,  July  17,  1862, 
A.  Lincoln,  President,  d-c: 

1  have  telegraphed  all  the  Adjutant  Generals  and  Colonels  at 
Washington  to  tell  you  to  help  us,  but  get  no  answer.  I  don't 
know  where  Morgan  is;  he  has  the  best  horses  in  the  world; 
only  the  low  and  evil  will  join  him.  Fire  and  sword!  An  aid 
just  in  says  Morgan  is  burning  up  the  State!  Killing  all  ages, 
ranks  and  sexes!  Covington  is  rising  against  us!  Do  send  re- 
inforcements! I'll  pay  the  stay-at-home  rebels  for  this!  Fight- 
ing at  Cynthiana!    God  help  us!    You  won't! 

Persuasively, 

B.  Bridges." 

"Louisville,  July  18,  1862. 
Gen.  Buell: 

The  villain  Morgan  whipped  our  troops  at  Cynthiana  yester- 
day!    I'll  pay   his  uncles  for  it  after  he  leaves.     I  will  seize. 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  133 

horses  from  secessionists  and  make  them  pay  for  rebel  doings. 
Send  reinforcements!  No  citizen  shall  hold  an  office  in  Ken- 
tucky. They  are  stealing  horses  again !  No  man  ever  had  such 
times!  The  rebels  spread  every  possible  lie!  Louisville  is  ris- 
ing against  us!    Send  troops  quick!  B.  Bridges." 

Gen.  Buell  at  this  point  telegraphed  him : 

"It  is  not  proper  to  war  on  citizens  or  levy  contributions  upon 
them  for  opinion's  sake.  D.  C.  Buell." 

"Louisville,  July  21,  1862. 
Qen.  Buell: 

A  more  vigorous  policy  must  be  pursued.  Morgan  has  burnt 
another  bridge!  Do  please,  for  Heaven's  sake,  send  reinforce- 
ments. All  is  lost!  With  fair  officers  I  could  take  Morgan, 
but  "Ward  and  G.  Clay  Smith  are  no  account.  If  I  only  had 
officers!  Don't  you  want  G.  Clay  Smith?  He  ought  to  be  a 
Baptist  preacher  and  predestinate  the  rebels  to  eternal  damna- 
tion. Do  take  him  off  my  hands!  He  got  in  sight  of  Morgan 
yesterday  and  let  him  get  away,  surrounding  two  stragglers  by 
forming  a  hollow  square.  O  the  martinet!  He  should  be  shot 
for  precision.  B.  Bridges." 

"Louisville,  July  24,  1862. 
Secretary  Stanton: 

Lincoln  and  Buell  are  unappreciative,  and  I  therefore  tele- 
graph you.  Now,  just  look  at  this  dispatch  from  Morgan  to 
me:  'Good  morning,  'Boil.'  The  telegraph  is  a  great  institu- 
tion. You  should  destroy  it,  as  it  keeps  me  too  well  posted.  I 
have  all  your  soldier-like  (?)  dispatches.  Don't  destroy  bridges 
or  railroads;  I  have  attended  to  that.  Keep  cool!'  What  a 
villain  he  must  be!  I'll  hang  his  operator  for  it  if  I  catch  him. 
See  how  my  patience  is  tried.  B.  Bridges." 

"Louisville.  July  25,  1862. 
A.  Lincoln,  Presiderit,  &c.: 

Morgan  is  gone!  His  uncles  and  rebel  citizens  shall  pay  the 
damages  done  by  him!     I  would  suggest  as  good  policy  you  issue 


134  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

a  proclamation  for  a  national  thanksgiving  and  remove  G.  Clay 
Smith  from  the  field  of  war.  B.  Bridges." 

The  following  dispatch  closed  the  electrical  corre- 
spondence: 

"Washington,  D.  C.,  July  26,  1862. 
Gen.  Buell: 

Am  in  doubt  whether  'Boil'  Bridges  is  an  incompetent  patriot 
or  the  worst  product  of  civil  war.  Restrain  him.  Old  Ken- 
tucky is  my  native  State!  A.  Lincoln." 

No  sooner  had  Morgan  gone  than  news  of  the  ap- 
proach of  General  Bragg's  army  threw  "Boil" 
Bridges  into  an  effervescent  state.  Utter  consterna- 
tion followed,  and  other  officers  were  at  once  put  in 
command.  Thenceforward  '  'Boil"  Bridges  ceased  to 
be  conspicuous.  His  professional  informer  had  turned 
rebel  during  the  Confederate  occupation  of  Kentucky, 
and  his  spy  was  no  more.  Thus  the  clouds  that  hung 
over  Lexie  and  her  aunts  were  pushed  away,  and 
"Boil"  Bridges  sank  into  that  oblivion  which  now 
well  nigh  covers  him  from  verbal  criticism.  But  his 
cruelty,  recorded  in  black  characters  on  Kentucky's 
pages  of  history,  can  never  be  obscured. 

From  this  historical  retrospect  I  will  now  return  to 
the  thread  of  Penn  Grabbe's  strategitical  life. 


XVII. 

^^/""^OOD  morning,   Major  Paymento,"  and  Penn 

V_J-  Grabb6  seated  himself,  saying,  "Major,  I 
have  thought  over  my  claims  against  the  Govern- 
ment, and  concluded  to  leave  the  whole  matter  to 
you. " 

"But,  sir,  lean  take  no  such  responsibility,"  re- 
turned Major  Paymento.  "You  must  submit  this 
item  of  'Incidental  Expenses'  to  the  Bureau  at  "Wash- 
ington, I  am  ready  to  pay  you  for  recruits  and  any 
live  stock  for  which  the  Government  may  owe  you." 

For  the  first  time  in  his  life  Penn  Grabb^  was  cir- 
cumvented by  honesty,  but,  assuming  the  countenance 
of  virtue,  he  said,  "Strike  out  the  'Incidental  Ex- 
penses' and  put  the  wagons  at  two  dollars  and  fifty 
cents  per  day,  your  own  estimate  at  the  time  I  told 
you  rebel  women  fixed  the  prices  and — " 

'  'Humph !  Go  on  to  other  matters,  I  want  to  hear 
no  more  about  rebel  women,  but  more  of  honest  deal- 
ings with  the  Government,"  said  Major  Paymento  in 
a  tone  of  Massachusetts  granite. 

'  'I  was  about  to  remark, "  coolly  said  Grabb^,  '  'that 
I  guessed  I  ought  to  be  satisfied,  though  not  com- 
pensated, with  any  settlement  you  would  make,  and 
that  I  am  willing  to  take  twenty-three  thousand  dol- 

1.35 


136  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

lars  in  final  settlement  for  the  horses,  mules,  cattle 
and  recruits  furnished  by  me  up  to  date." 

Major  Paymento  had  scrutinized  the  account  during 
the  previous  night,  and  with  some  suspicion  said, 
"Can  you  tell  me,  sir,  why  you  are  willing  to  lose 
twenty-three  thousand  dollars  for  'Incidental  Ex- 
penses' and  cut  down  the  remainder  of  your  account 
almost  half?"     • 

The  ingenuity  of  Penn  Grabb^  was  here  put  to  a 
severe  test,  but  his  early  mathematical  training  came 
to  his  relief  and  he  answered:  "First,  I  wish  to  quit 
the  unpleasant  and  dangerous  business  of  recruiting; 
second,  I  bought  the  mules,  horses  and  cattle  in  my 
account  under  a  trade  permit  from  'Boil'  Bridges  at 
half  price  from  rebel  sympathizers  who  were  afraid 
of  confiscation  or  imprisonment;  third,  I  made  on  a 
former  contract  thirty  thousand  dollars;  and,  lastly, 
these  statements  will  show  any  candid  man  that  I 
have  made  seven  thousand  dollars  clear,  if  my  loss 
for  Incidentals  be  excluded." 

This  seemed  to  satisfy  Major  Paymento,  and  the 
account  was  settled  on  the  lump  basis.  Penn  Grabb6 
received  a  check  therefor  and  departed  with  a  bit  of 
cold  courtesy.  He  remained  in  Louisville  ten  days 
for  the  purpose  of  becoming  acquainted  with  the  reg- 
imental brigade  and  division  quartermasters  and 
commissariats.  When  he  left  he  knew  them  all.  On 
arriving  at  Cincinnati  he  lodged  at  an  obscure  hotel 
and  became  acquainted  with  a  Jew  clothier  by  the 
name  of  Habbakkuk  Wallenstein.  After  several  days' 
conversation,  in  which  profits  on  army  contracts  of 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  137 

every  kind  were  discussed,  biblical  knowledge  exhib- 
ited and  cross-analysis  of  character  made,  Penn 
Grabb6  became  convinced  that  Habbakkuk  Wallen- 
stein  was  the  sort  of  man  he  was  seeking.  By  this 
time  the  Yankee  and  the  Jew  tendency  to  make  ac- 
quaintances had  put  them  on  a  friendly  basis,  and 
each  became  communicative  to  the  other. 

Penn  Grabbe  said,  "I  have  cleared  one  hundred 
and  twenty-six  thousand  dollars  during  the  last 
twelve  months,"  and  Habbakkuk  Wallenstein  de- 
clared, without  meditation,  '  'I  haf  cleart  twice  dat 
much." 

Penn  Grabb6,  continuing,  said,  '  'Then  if  you  and 
I  wished  to  do  so,  we  could  fill  a  big  clothing  contract 
on  half  of  our  capital." 

"Vel,  I  tink  so,"  said  Habbakkuk,  "but  you  vil  haf 
to  put  up  de  monies  and  I  vil  furnish  decloding,"  the 
fact  being  that  he  had  made  four  assignments,  been 
burnt  out  twice,  lost  the  insurance  because  he  dared 
not  sue  the  Insurance  Company,  and  was  at  that  mo- 
ment overwhelmingly,  but  not  hopelessly,  in  debt. 

In  legal  phrase,  the  aggregatio  mentium  took  place 
between  them.  Penn  Grabbe  exhibited  a  genuine 
contract  with  a  quartermaster  of  the  army,  dated  at 
Louisville,  for  the  supply  of  thirteen  thousand  uni- 
forms at  twenty-one  dollars  each  and  twenty  thou- 
sand army  blankets  at  five  dollars  apiece. 

Habbakkuk's  eyes  nearly  popped  out  of  his  head. 
From  that  moment  obsequiousness,  apparently  per- 
fect trust  and  great  admiration  for  Penn  Grabb6 
marked  every  word,  look,  smile  and  act  of  Habbak- 


338  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

kuk.  Now  and  then  he  declaimed  the  eloquent  Third 
Chapter  of  Habbakkuk  with  piety  and  precision. 
Grabb6  listened  to  this  innocent  soul  until  he  beheld 
a  child-like  trust  that  quieted  every  doubt  and  gained 
his  full  confidence. 

On  Christmas  day  following  their  agreement  Hab- 
bakkuk had  the  uniforms  and  blankets  ready  to  ship. 
He  wrote  for  Penn  Grabb^  to  come  at  once.  The  lat- 
ter received  the  letter,  and,  abridging  both  time  and 
space,  arrived  at  Cincinnati  within  twenty-four 
hours. 

The  clothing  and  blankets  were  sent  to  Nashville 
marked  C.  O.  D.,  and  Habbakkuk  insisted,  although 
Grabb6  had  proposed  to  go  alone,  that  he  too  should 
go  along  to  explain  away  any  objections  to  the  cloth- 
ing that  might  arise. 

Nothing,  however,  happened  to  disturb  the  smooth 
machinery  which  Penn  Grabb^  had  oiled  in  his  own 
way,  and  the  quartermaster  drew  his  draft  on  the 
Government  for  three  hundred  and  seventy- three 
thousand  dollars,  payable  to  Wallenstein  and  Grabbe. 

'  'Dat  sheck  shoot  not  be  casht  here, "  said  Habbak- 
kuk; "it  shoot  be  sent  by  de  Attums  Expriss  to  my 
bankers,  Bloomgold  ant  Levi,  ant  save  us  from  bein' 
robt." 

"I  agree  with  you,"  rejoined  Grabb6,  and  it  was 
forwarded  as  suggested  by  Habbakkuk. 

Arriving  at  Cincinnati  late  the  next  evening,  Hab- 
bakkuk would  listen  to  nothing  but  that  Grabb6 
should  stay  at  his  private  residence  that  night.  This 
residence  belonged  to  Bloomgold  and  was  extraordi- 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  139 

narily   furnished,    exhibiting,  in    mixed    profusion, 
marks  of  social   taste  and  a  peddler's  brassy  pen 
chants;  but  Habbakkuk  claimed  the  house  as  his  own 
and  made  Grabb6  believe  it. 

They  had  goose,  fattened  in  the  cellar  while  its 
webbed  feet  were  nailed  to  a  plank,  for  supper  and 
three  kinds  of  wine.  The  talk  lasted  far  into. the 
night.  The  mildewed  clothing,  rotten  fabric  of  the 
army  overcoats,  second-hand  blankets  and  general 
cheating  practiced  on  the  Government,  were  gone 
over  in  great  hilarity.  They  drank  to  each  other 
frequently  and  fully.  When  it  was  growing  late, 
Habbakkuk  said,  "De  rebel  bullets  wilt  shlip  betwent 
de  stitches  uf  dem  overcotes  ant  de  breeches  vilt  last 
dem  vun  vweek  undt  ve  vilt  selt  dem  som  more." 

This  tickled  Grabb6  immensely. 

"How  much  profits  do  you  suppose,  Habbakkuk, 
we  have  made?"  asked  Grabbe,  rising  to  go  to  bed. 

"Vel,  I  shoot  say — bout  tree  hundret  tousand  dol- 
lars." 

"I  will  bid  you  good  night  on  that,"  said  Grabb^, 
taking  the  lamp  from  Habbakkuk's  hands  at  the  door 
of  the  room  to  which  the  latter  had  conducted  him. 

Grabbe  was  told  to  sleep  late,  as  the  household 
breakfasted  at  ten,  and  that  he  must  meet  "Mrs. 
Wallenstein  mit  de  babie;"  besides,  "de  bank  vilt  not 
be  opent  tilt  leven." 

Grabbe  prayed  that  night  for  divine  grace  to  sus- 
tain him  in  his  renewed  resolution  never  again  to  en- 
gage in  questionable  dealings  with  his  Government, 
or  risk  his  earnings  by  entering  on  other  ventures. 


140  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

He  promised  his  Maker  that  he  would  build  a  sol- 
dier's widow  and  orphans'  home  in  Branch  county 
when  peace  should  be  declared,  and  thus  he  sought 
to  atone  for  misconduct  which  seemed  to  his  con- 
science to  result  from  the  nature  of  the  war.  He  fell 
asleep,  and  with  the  quiet  of  confidence  which  Hab- 
bakkuk  had  inspired,  passed  a  dreamless  night  and 
awoke  physically  refreshed.  Habbakkuk  had  break- 
fasted and  gone  to  the  store,  while  a  Jewess  servant 
acted  the  part  of  Mrs.  Wallenstein,  leaving  the  baby, 
however,  in  the  maternal  bed  to  finish  its  prolonged 
slumbers. 

Grabbe's  suspicions  were  not  aroused  nor  his  ap- 
petite blunted,  hence  he  ate  heartily  and  was  men- 
tally happy!  On  the  way  to  the  store  he  loitered 
while  enjoying  a  cigar  and  looking  at  officers'  uni- 
forms and  trappings  which  lined  the  show  cases  of 
the  Jewish  quarters.  Finally  he  reached  Wallen- 
stein's  establishment,  which  was  a  dingy,  narrow 
building  in  that  quarter  which  lies  to  the  west  of 
Vine  and  south  of  Fourth,  a,nd  called  for  the  proprie- 
tor. He  was  answered  by  the  clerk  in  charge  that 
Mr.  Wallenstein  was  out  but  would  be  in  shortly. 
The  clerk  invited  him  to  be  seated.  In  response  to 
his  inquiry  about  business  he  was  told  that  the  house 
had  given  its  employes  a  Jewish  holiday;  that,  doing 
only  wholesale  business  in  army  specialties,  they 
often  appeared  to  be  shut  dov^n,  when,  in  fact,  they 
were  simply  resting  up  for  other  big  contracts,  the 
policy  of  the  house  being  to  reject  all  small  deals. 

Thus  Grabbe  was  entertained  until  noon,  when  a 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  141 

a  keen  pang  of  suspicion  shot  through  his  brain. 
Habbakkuk  had  not  come.  The  establishment  seemed 
to  be  abandoned.  It  had,  all  at  once,  a  desolate  ap- 
pearance. Anxiety  flushed  his  face  and  self-posses- 
sion forsook  him. 

"Where  is  Wallenstein?"  he  sternly  demanded  of 
the  frightened  clerk,  who  had  watched  every  change 
of  feeling  through  unerring  facial  signs. 

The  clerk  chattered,  '  T  don't  know,  I  don't  know, 
I  vilt  go  for  him,"  and  snatched  his  hat. 

'  'No  you  won't, "  shouted  Grabb^,  violently  seizing 
him  by  the  collar.  '  'You  will  go  show  me  the  bank- 
ing house  of  Bloomgold  and  Levi!" 

"Velt  let  me  go  ant  I  vilt  go  mit  you,"  said  the 
clerk. 

Grabb^  released  his  hold,  and,  stooping  to  pick  up 
his  hat,  which  had  fallen  off  when  he  grabbed  the 
clerk,  he  saw  something  like  the  flit  of  a  bird  toward 
the  rear  of  the  building.  Rising  and  rushing  after 
the  flying  clerk,  he  saw  his  form  drop,  as  it  were, 
through  a  trap  door,  and  visions  of  wealth  seemed  to 
disappear  with  him.  The  banking  house  of  Bloom- 
gold  and  Levi  was  found;  the  Government  draft  had 
been  received  and  honored,  but  Mr.  Wallenstein,  for 
some  unaccountable  reason,  so  Bloomgold  said,  had 
removed  his  deposits,  both  firm  and  individual,  leav- 
ing the  bank  in  total  ignorance  of  his  motive. 
Grabb6  put  private  detectives  ou  Habbakkuk's  track, 
but  the  latter  had  not  left  a  rack  behind  while  fold- 
ing up  his  existence  in  clouds  of  deep  obscurity. 

Returning-  to  Branch  county,  after  weeks  of  wasted 


142  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

search,  Grabb^  retired  to  his  farm  and  remained  in- 
active during  the  rest  of  the  eventful  year  of  1863. 
That  year,  beginning  with  President  Lincoln's  proc- 
lamation freeing  the  slaves,  culminated  with  Gettys- 
burg on  the  3d  and  Vicksburg  on  the  "ever  memora- 
ble 4th  of  July,"  as  "Colonel"  Patter  would  say.  It 
marked  the  highest  tide  of  the  flood  of  war  which 
thence  prevailed  exceedingly  in  the  stricken*  South 
until  the  ark  of  a  new  political  covenant  rested  upon 
the  plains  of  Appomattox.  Thence  the  croaking 
raven  winged  its  flight  to  the  land  of  Reconstruction, 
while  the  dove  of  peace  found  no  rest  for  the  sole  of 
her  foot  until  the  olive  branch  flourished  in  the 
hands  of  a  thief  who  stole  the  Presidency  "and  put 
it  in  his  pocket. " 


XVIII. 

CAPTAIN  McCOOK  suffered  intense  pain  and  for 
a  long  time  his  life  hung  in  the  balance.  Lema 
visited  him  regularly  and  was  kind  to  him.  Her  gen- 
tle voice  and  considerate  words  cheered  him,  how- 
ever, more  than  all  else.  They  seemed  to  have  a 
subtile  influence  over  him,  but  his  fond  interpretation 
increased  their  power.  What  she  did  was  from  a 
different  motive  than  assigned  in  the  silence  of  his 
strong  feelings.  She  saw  he  was  misleading  himself. 
She  did  not  love,  but  honored  him,  and  felt  great  in- 
terest in  his  welfare.  She  pitied  him  and  suffered 
much  for  his  sake.  In  her  prayers  she  often  asked 
for  the  gentlest  means  of  undeceiving  him.  Her  dis- 
tress of  mind  grew  with  her  inability  to  tell  him  the 
truth.  Exhausted  energies  and  unhappiness  began 
to  tell  their  old  story  in  the  fading  light  of  her  face. 
Her  once  springy  step  doubtingly  touched  the  floor, 
the  sound  of  her  voice  was  dull  and  meaningless,  the 
breezy  spirit  gone,  and,  weary  laden,  she  seemed  to 
sink  under  her  burdens. 

Captain  McCook  had  not  asked,  either  with  tongue 
or  pen,  performance  of  her  promise  made  to  him  at 
Perryville.  He  pleaded  with  his  eyes  and  pledged 
liis  love  through  tones  unmistakable  in  meaning,  yet 

143 


344  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

he  never  asked  the  question  which  she  feared  most 
and  constantly  anticipated.  He  showed  plainly  how 
well  he  loved  her,  but,  like  one  playing  for  an  ines- 
timable prize,  deferred  casting  the  final  die.  The 
masonic  sign  of  lovers  had  not  been  given  him  from 
the  eyes,  which  speak  with  greatest  power  the  soul's 
sacred  mystery,  nor  had  her  tones  betrayed  any  love 
for  him.  The  absence  of  the  lover's  tokens  the  world 
over  silenced  his  tongue,  and,  trusting  to  the  mute 
persuasion  of  his  mangled  feelings,  he  hoped  for 
favor  which  never  came. 

Lexie  had  become  strongly  attached  to  Lema  and 
ran  to  meet  her  at  the  door  whenever  she  returned 
from  the  labors  of  the  hospital.  She  sat  by  her  side 
at  the  table  and  watched  her  tired  face  as  it  grew  wan 
from  anxiety  and  overwork.  None  knew  of  her 
secret  distress,  and  she  sought  no  confidante  in  the 
affairs  of  her  heart.  Her  appetite  was  gone,  and  the 
nerves,  ready  for  rebellion  at  all  times,  like  the  peo- 
ple of  republics  when  overtaxed,  showed  evidences  of 
disorder.  She  was  sick  when  she  got  to  the  house 
that  cold  December  night  on  which  the  awful  battle  of 
Murfreesboro  was  begun,  aud  Lexie's  aunts  at  once 
gave  her  a  hot  bath  and  put  her  to  bed.  Lexie  was 
set  to  watch  and  give  the.  medicines  at  proper  times 
and  keep  the  damp  cloth  upon  the  aching  head.  At 
midnight  a  strong  sedative  became  necessary.  Soon 
the  eyes,  that  had  unselfishly  watched  over  others  so 
often,  were  closed  in  uneasy  slumber  which  grew  quiet 
after  a  while,  and  the  morning  was  far  gone  before 
she  awoke. 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  145 

"I  must  go  to  my  mother,"  said  she,  languidly  aris- 
ing from  the  long,  restful  sleep. 

"O  we  will  take  just  as  good  care  of  you  as  your 
mother,  and  you  shan't  go, "  pettishly  said  Lexie,  who 
had  not  left  her  side  during  the  night. 

Aunt  Bina  came  in,  and,  after  a  few  questions  and 
answers,  saw  that  mental  trouble  and  overstrain  were 
telling  upon  the  beautiful  face  and  spirit. 

"O,  auntie,  don't  let  her  go," 

"Hush,  dear,  be  quiet!" 

Lexie  was  silent,  but  gazed  curiously  at  the  changed 
face  and  parched,  unmurmuring  lips.  Then  her  eyes 
filled  with  tears,  the  real  condition  of  her  friend  hav- 
ing dawned  upon  her. 

That  evening  General  Bright  and  Major  and  Mrs. 
Payment©  called  to  see  Lema,  and  it  was  agreed  she 
should  start  for  home  on  the  morrow. 

The  thoughts  of  her  dear  Massachusetts  home  and 
of  her  old  mother  and  sisters,  whom  she  had  not  seen 
for  many  months,  revived  her  spirits  and  some  of  her 
wonted  cheerfulness  returned  to  enliven  even  Lexie's 
down-crushed  spirits.  Next  morning  she  wrote  Cap- 
tain McCook  a  kindly  note  of  farewell,  and  sent  mes- 
sages to  the  sick  and  wounded,  who  received  them 
with  silent  tears  or  spoken  words  of  sorrow,  and  pre- 
pared to  depart  for  her  Eastern  home.  She  was  ac- 
companied as  far  as  Indianapolis  by  Lexie  and  her 
Aunt  Julia. 

When  they  parted  Lexie's  red  swollen  eye- 
lids and  si^ppressed  feelings,  in  dumb  eloquence, 
said,  "Grood-bye" — a  phrase  so  common,  yet  so  rare, 

10 


146  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

linking  the  divided  by  its  notes  of  love,  or  tones  of 
friendship,  or  yet  marking  separation  with  conveni- 
ence, or,  the  grave  of  a  passing  acquaintance  with 
dead  emphasis.  Such  is  the  varied  power  of  these 
two  monosyllabic  nothings. 

Such  are  human  tones  that  the  genuine  stand  for 
truth  and  love,  while  the  false,  from  appearance  to 
indifference,  from  selfishness  to  hypocrisy,  are  unerr- 
ing signs  of  the  absence  of  charity. 

Lema  breathed  quickly,  while  she  folded  the  brave, 
guileless  girl  in  her  arms,  then  mute,  boundless  in 
affection,  with  no  thought  of  her  own  misery,  she 
clung  to  her  child  friend  until  torn  asunder  by  the 
rude  scream  of  the  iron  horse.  In  thirty  hours  she 
was  walking  up  the  frozen  walk  between  the  leafless 
maples,  and,  in  another  moment,  she  was  in  the  sweet 
home  of  her  youth,  with  its  talisman  of  virtue,  its 
altar  of  faith  and  a  mother's  love. 

Here  her  health  returned,  but,  when  the  old  happi- 
ness of  home  put  in  its  appearance,  her  spirit  was 
delirious  with  dread,  for  its  scattered  power  no  longer 
iocussed  itself  upon  the  sun  glass  of  home  anxi  its 
'dear  associations.  A  change  had  been  wrought,  and 
■the  form  of  the  stranger,  an  enemy  to  her  country 
and  kindred,  was  present  at  every  touch  of  the  spring 
*of  recollection.  The  love  of  a  patriot  wooed  her  with 
its  fit  associations  and  fervid  purity;  while  him,  of 
'her  youth,  she  could  no  longer  call  from  low  estate  to 
the  uncrowned  monarchy  of  a  heart  worthy  of  a 
prince;  alas!  the  fountains  of  her  heart  had  flowed 
into  other  channels,    the  limpid   surface  had  been 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  Ut 

broken  by  rude  winds,  and  the  morning  star  of  life 
glinted,  undefined,  in  the  waves  which  now  rolled 
high  on  the  sea  of  her  altered  existence.  The  world 
had  been  too  much  for  her,  but  a  new  life  had  been 
molded  out  of  materials  of  the  heart  and  conscience 
by  nature's  master  methods. 

Throughout  the  year  war  news,  the  quality  of  the 
Southern  people,  their  institutions,  customs  and  civ- 
ilization were  among  the  themes  of  every  evening's 
social  converse  around  the  broad  old  fire-place.  After 
Lema  became  well  enough  to  perform  the  task,  she 
essayed  to  answer  the  repeated  questions  of  her 
mother. 

"I  could  not  tell  you  all  I  saw,  heard,  thought  and 
felt,  dear  mother,  were  I  to  talk  of  it  the  rest  of  my 
natural  life.  My  experiences  have  shed  another  light 
on  the  Southern  people.  While  I  found  them  en- 
gaged in  a  useless  war  of  politics,  I  discovered  they 
were  sincere,  courteous  and  brave.  All  of  them 
seemed  to  resent  the  idea  that  they  were  fighting 
against  republican  government.  Their  pride  of  an- 
cestry, who  may  have  been  soldiers  or  statesmen,  is 
excessive,  but  not  to  be  compared  with  their  love  for 
the  new  Confederacy.  At  Nashville  I  was  intro- 
duced to  ladies  of  families  that  had  furnished  the  sol- 
diers of  that  city  to  the  South,  and  I  must  admit  they 
are  spirited,  patriotic,  from  their  standpoint,  and  pos- 
sess the  manners  of  refined  associations.  The  men 
woo  women  with  the  dash  of  mediaeval  knighthood, 
and  their  movements  are  marked  by  the  pleasing  dig- 
nity of  high-born  owners  of  baronies.     At  first  I  did 


148  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

not  like  this,  it  was  so  foreign  to  our  plain,  puritan 
manners.  Nor  did  their  homes,  furnished  apparently 
for  effect,  exhibit  the  thrift  and  economy  which  New 
Englanders  love  and  enjoy.  They  have  too  much 
flourish,  their  blood  is  hot  and  their  courage  is  sen- 
sational and  not  so  steady  as  daring;  but  it  all  trends 
to  the  ideal,  and,  freed  from  the  blight  of  slavery 
within  the  folds  of  a  restored  Union,  a  Union  of  pres- 
ervation and  not  of  conquest,  they  would  rise .  to 
sublime  heights  of  mental,  moral  and  patriotic 
grandeur." 

"My  child,"  exclaimed  the  old  mother,  the  white 
frills  of  whose  cap  encircled  the  high  forehead 
crowned  with  spectacles,  "how  can  you  attribute 
morality  to  a  people  who  own  human  beings  and  take 
their  labor  for  nothing?" 

"I  have  learned,  mother,  that  our  ancestors  once 
did  these  same  things,  and  that  customs,  manners, 
laws,  traditions  and  conditions  govern  human  con- 
duct, and,  as  in  the  case  of  St.  Paul,  make  men  con- 
scientious in  evil,  and,  when  enlightened,  construct- 
ively great  in  action.  The  conscientious  man,  how- 
ever wrong  in  his  theories  and  practices,  is  the 
honest  man.  From  these  premises,  constructed  from 
history,  the  philosophy  of  life  and  my  own  expe- 
rience, I  have  concluded  that  the  South,  though 
wrong,  believes  she  is  right;  that  her  people,  while 
warring  against  the  inevitable,  will  share  our  victory 
at  the  end — for  they  are  victors  who  are  vanquished 
by  their  own  errors — and  leave  behind  them  a  more 
glorious  military  history  than  our  own  people.     At 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  149 

Nashville,  they  did  good  to  their  enemies,  for  they 
sent  meat  and  drink  to  the  wounded,  nursed  many  of 
the  sick  in  their  own  homes,  while  praying  for  their 
absent  ones,  their  new  government  and  those  in  au- 
thority over  it.  Mother,  there  is  more  humanity  in 
the  South  than  was  ever  dreamed  of  in  our  philan- 
thropy. In  the  city  of  Louisville,  I  boarded  with  a 
Southern  family  which  was  visited  a  great  deal  by 
Southern  people,  and  hear^  them  talk.  Their 
thoughts  were  worn  upon  their  sleeves  and  no  malice 
marred  their  hearts,  Little  Lexie  Hallen,  of  whom 
I  told  you,  would  help  a  rebel  escape  in  one  moment, 
but  in  the  next  administer  to  the  sick  or  wounded 
Unionist.  They  are  a  curious  people  to  us,  but  none 
more  lovable  or  brave  exists.  The  Kentuckians  are 
divided  and  the  native  Unionist  is  very  hostile,  and 
many  of  them  barbarous  toward  the  families  of  the 
Kentucky  Confederates.  It  is  a  common  thing  to 
arrest  old  gray-headed  men  and  bright,  educated 
women,  levy  tribute  on  Southern  citizens  for  acts  of 
armed  Confederates  and  speculate  off  of  them  by 
trade  permits  given  only  to  Unionists.  To  cap  the 
climax  of  folly  and  passion,  the  Union  Legislature 
passed  a  law  expatriating  Kentucky  Confederate  sol- 
diers and  divorcing  them  from  their  wives." 

"Oh,  that  is  persecution,"  cried  her  mother,  "and 
should  be  stopped  by  Mr.  Lincoln  at  once.  A  Union, 
restored  by  such  means,  will  leave  open  wounds  to 
fester  for  a  quarter  of  a  century  and  mar  our  great 
philanthropic  war  forever." 

The  daughter,  continuing,  said.  "I  heard  that  he 


150  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

had  telegraphed  last  summer  to  that  cultivated  and 
highly  civilized  soldier,  General  Buell,  to  curb  this 
element  and  restrain  their  viciousness,  and  I  have 
hope  it  may  be  done." 

She  told  her  mother,  day  by  day,  parts  of  the 
scenes  through  which  she  had  passed,  of  the  manly 
character  of  Captain  McCook,  of  Lexie's  fidelity  and 
childish  candor,  mixing  into  the  narrative,  with  due 
caution,  her  experiences  at  Shiloh  and  the  descrip- 
tion of  Kentucky's  war  duel.  When  she  first  men- 
tioned Robert  Hope's  name  it  sounded  so  much  like 
the  announcement  of  his  presence  that  her  heart  beat 
its  excitement  in  her  white  throat  and  the  quiver  of 
her  voice  attracted  her  mother's  curiosity. 

"What's  the  matter,  daughter?"  cried  her  mother, 
looking  straight  and  searchingly  into  her  face. 

"O  nothing!"  gasped  Lema;  "I  fear  I  have  heart 
trouble." 

"Yes,  yes,"  said  her  mother.  "I  remember  well 
how  my  heart  used  to  jump  into  my  throat  and  my 
voice  tremble  like  an  aspen  whenever  the  name  of  a 
young  man,  who  afterward  became  your  father,  was 
mentioned." 

Lema,  recovering,  laughed  at  her  mother's  cling- 
ing vanity  and  talked  of  the  girlish  flippancy  with 
which  she  alluded  to  her  early  courtship,  until  she 
made  the  mother's  late-blooming  conceit  a  little  afflict- 
ive to  her  dignity.  Thus  Lema  finally  escaped  from 
the  effects  of  mentioning  Robert  Hope's  name  too 
suddenly  and  thenceforward  became  more  circum- 
spect in  her  references  to  him. 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  151 

The  conditions  about  the  old  home  had  changed 
and  Lema's  filial  duty,  as  she  understood  it,  demand- 
ed of  her  more  sacrifices.  Patriotism  still  burned 
brightly  in  her  bosom,  and,  though  deprived  by  cir- 
cumstances of  active  work  in  the  field,  she  deter- 
mined to  encourage  with  her  pen  the  men  of  the  Re- 
public to  save  the  Union,  to  save  the  South  to  it,  to 
save  liberty  for  mankind,  liberty  which  honest  differ- 
ences had  put  to  the  hazard  and  which  the  war  might 
destroy  from  the  face  of  the  earth  forever. 


XIX. 

DURING  Lema's  long  absence  her  mother  and  sis- 
ters had  fallen  in  debt,  and  small  creditors,  as 
usual,  were  impudent,  importunate  and  cruel. 

The  Sayrs,  being  intensely  loyal  to  the  Union,  went 
beyond  their  ability  in  contributions  to  the  cause. 
The  small  investments  made  before  Lema's  departure 
for  the  field  of  war  had  depreciated,  and  the  old  home 
was  again  in  danger  of  being  sold  or  mortgaged.  To 
avert  this  calamity  and  protect  her  aging  mother 
from  want  and  her  sisters  from  the  oppressions  of 
poverty,  she  was  constrained  to  forego  the  great  work 
of  charity  which  she  had  so  bravely  begun. 

While  casting  about  for  something  to  do,  and  meet- 
ing frequent  disappointments,  she  was  consoled  to 
learn  that  the  great  Sanitary  Commission  was  fully 
organized,  and  that  sick  and  wounded  soldiers  would 
be  cared  for  in  a  systematic  way.  But  what  could  she 
do  or  get  to  do  was  the  question  to  which  she  was 
forced  to  recur. 

Finally  taking  up  her  pen,  she  wrote  a  story  of  the 
war  based  on  her  own  experience  and  sent  it  to  a 
Boston  periodical.  It  was  accepted,  and  a  small 
etched  check  remitted  to  her  in  return  for  it.  She 
looked  at  the  beautiful  check,  turning  it  about  in  her 

152 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  153 

hands,  thinking  of  the  possibilities  of  authorship. 
The  wild  scenes  of  the  mighty  struggle  which  she 
had  witnessed  arose  to  her  mind;  like  an  echo  from 
memory's  marvelous  horn  sounded  the  voices  of  the 
dim  past,  and  a  feeling  of  sadness  settled  like  a  mist 
at  eventide  upon  her  heart,  ever  ready  for  the  blues 
or  buoyancy  as  occasion  dictated.  The  night  of  her 
life  seemed  to  have  come,  but  the  music  of  an  in- 
visible charm  arose,  merry  as  a  marriage  bell,  and 
floated  through  every  chamber  of  her  gloomy  heart, 
and  when  its  exquisite  sounds  died  away  she  flung 
the  reins  to  fancy  and,  as  in  a  trance,  felt  the  coming 
consolation  which  every  woman  longs  for.  She  had 
learned  of  love  and  sorrow  that  the  highest  ethical 
joy  springs  from  the  ashes  of  the  passions,  and  that 
contentment  and  human  perfection  are  born  of  toil, 
care  and  duty  done,  hence  she  hoped  and  was  willing 
to  labor  and  to  wait. 

Then  said  she,  "I  will  fasten  a  purpose  to  my 
soul  and  write  literature  until  the  robes  of  fame  fall 
upon  my  shoulders  and  give  to  life  a  reputation  which 
shall  be  prolonged  after  death." 

Arising  from  her  reverie  she  sought  her  mother, 
and  laid  in  her  wrinkled  hand  the  first  golden  fruits 
of  her  pen.  New  life  was  in  every  movement  then, 
for  uncertainty  of  purpose  no  longer  neutralized  her 
energy. 

First  a  cozy  library  was  improvised  in  an  odd  room 
in  one  corner  of  the  building.  The  wide  wood  fire- 
place, with  its  mantelpiece  of  black  walnut,  took  up 
half  of  one  side  of  the  room.     The  low  ceiling  and 


15.4  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

brown  walls  were  papered  with  figures  of  colonial 
times.  A  quaint  little  window,  filled  with  eight  little 
panes  of  glass,  let  in  the  light  from  the  sea  and 
placed  its  breakers  under  the  eye  of  the  restless  oc- 
cupant of  this  unpretentious  apartment. 

With  her  own  hands,  and  the  aid  of  her  mother's 
spruce  and  tidy  notions,  she  brushed,  swabbed,  wiped 
and  cleaned  the  woodwork,  window  glass,  stone 
jambs  and  slated  hearth  until  not  a  dowdy  spot 
smudged  the  interior  of  "Think."  That  is  the  name 
she  gave  it;  pasted  on  each  window  pane,  over  the 
doorway  and  to  the  back  of  the  maple-wood  chair, 
sawed  for  her  ancestors  from  the  forest  primeval. 

"What  books  do  you  intend  to  put  in  Think?"  asked 
her  mother. 

Lema  meditated  but  a  moment,  then  replied,  "The 
Bible,  Shakespeare,  Webster's  Dictionary,  the  latest 
edition  of  the  best  work  on  Anatomy,  Botany,  Geol- 
ogy, Astronomy  and  Chemistry.  By  these  lights  I 
can  study  God,  Earth  and  Stars,  Man  and  Flowers. 
I  can  extract  a  type  and  shadow  of  all  evil  and  of  all 
good  from  my  own  nature  and  my  own  experience. 
The  rest  I  can  trust  to  the  unknown  resources  of  the 
mind  and  the  undiscovered  capacity  of  the  soul.  With 
these  aids  added  to  the  palpable  senses,  I  think  the 
brain  might  work  wonders. " 

"But,  daughter,  you  have  left  out  Jonathan  Ed- 
ward's Sermons,  the  Catechism  and  Fox's  Book  of 
Martyrs." 

"Yes,  mother,  for  they  contain  too  much  of  'the 
horrible  and  awful,'  and  not  enough  of  virtue's  nat- 
ural capacity  to  protect  itself." 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  155 

"O  I  fear,"  said  Mrs.  Sayr,  "since  you  went  South 
you  have  imbibed  loose  notions,  and  our  good  old 
New  England  faith  has  lost  its  charm  for  you.  God 
help  you,  daughter,  to  return  in  mind  and  heart  to 
our  old  ways."     She  left  the  room  abruptly. 

'  'Lema  fell  to  thinking,  and  thought  on  until  the 
falling  curtains  of  night  blinded  the  eyes  of  the  little 
window  and  darkened  Boston's  waters.  She  dropped 
into  an  easy  slumber  for  a  moment  and  awoke  with 
her  aspirations  half  quieted.  Next  morning  she  was 
early  in  the  library,  and  by  noon  it  was  ready  for  the 
books.  In  the  evening  she  went  to  Boston  and  bought 
a  chess  board  and  ivory  men  and  the  best  editions  of 
her  select  library,  save  only  the  Bible,  which  is  al- 
ways at  hand,  old,  used  and  revered,  in  every  New 
England  home. 

In  Think  she  wrote  many  living,  breathing  sto- 
ries of  the  war  over  a  nom  de  plume,  and  coined 
her  thoughts  into  small  money — into  enough  to  bring 
subsistence  and  keep  the  roof  free  from  mortgage. 
She  was  studious,  at  intervals  dwelling  upon  the 
ideal,  even  when  her  heart  was  full  of  the  exacting 
anxiety  which  fills  every  heart  where  debt  and  bread 
are  always  in  sight  of  each  other.  The  mental  shad- 
ows, the  transitions  through  which  her  thoughts  and 
feelings  had  passed,  were  always  before  her  eyes, 
and  filled  many  of  her  pure  pages  with  profound  epi- 
grams on  human  vicissitudes. 


XX. 


IN  the  absence  of  Penn  Grabbe's  devising  mind, 
Fate  Wolf's  cunning  and  "Colonel"  Patter's  pe- 
dantic palaver  combined  for  safety  and  profit.  They 
did  a  big  business  in  substitute  traffic.  Eph  Soaks, 
having  jumped  the  bounty  from  eleven  different  regi- 
ments under  as  many  aliases,  appeared  in  Fate  Wolf's 
neighborhood.  Two  drafts  had  been  ordered,  and 
Kentucky's  quota  was  12,021.  These  observant 
patriots  knew  that  the  demand  in  military  markets 
for  substitutes  would  be  great,  and  patriotically 
turned  their  attention  in  that  direction. 

The  greater  part  of  Penn  Grabbe's  recruits  had 
come  home,  some  had  re-enlisted  under  other  names 
and  in  different  organizations,  and  some  had  even 
gone  to  other  States  with  new  names  for  those  obso- 
lescent designations  under  which  bounties,  blue 
clothes  and  green  money  had  been  drawn  on  more  oc- 
casions than  one. 

Fate  Wolf  said:  '  'The  woods  air  a  runnin'  over  with 
turrible  good  subter- shoots.  Less  us  gather  'em  in 
en  hold  a  meetin'  en  vote  to  jine  our  hands  ez  a  band 
nv  brothers  en  make  sumthin'  ez  other  people  air  a 
makin'." 

"Your  plan  is  full  of  strategy,  and  means  much  to 
its  followers."  remarked  "Colonel"  Patter. 

1-56 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  157 

The  ensuing  Thursday  night  twenty-seven  prac- 
ticed bounty  jumpers  met  at  Fate  Wolf's  cabin,  on 
Tippling  Fork,  to  devise  ways  and  means  on  the  sub- 
ject of  substitutes. 

Fate  Wolf  had  occupied  this  habitation  since  his 
marriage  in  1830  to  Miss  Scatlett  Purvine.  From  the 
north  the  house  is  approached  by  a  narrow  pathway 
that  leads  through  heavy  woods  and  bushes  until  the 
bold  cliffs  of  Tippling  Fork  are  reached.  They  tower 
three  hundred  feet  on  either  side  of  the  clear  stream 
which  runs  for  twenty  miles  between  them,  through 
gorges  so  contracted  at  points  that  each  drop  of  water 
crowds  in  for  passage.  It  flows  over  white  and  yel- 
low pebbles,  glistening- beneath  its  surface  like  pearls 
and  opals.  Now  and  then  the  wandering  stream  runs 
along  narrow  strips  of  land  nestling  at  the  foot  of  the 
lofty  cliffs,  which  are  at  no  point  more  than  one  hun- 
dred yards  away  from  its  purling,  gurgling  or  still- 
flowing  waters,  that,  at  times,  disappear  amidst  na- 
ture's sublimity.  From  the  tops  of  the  cliffs,  the 
narrow  path  to  Fate  Wolf's  cabin  is  a  crevice  in  the 
rock  that  seems  to  have  been  cracked  open  by  an 
earthquake.  It  is  barely  wide  enough  to  admit  one 
man.  Half  way  down  this  dizzy  descent  the  crevice 
stops,  and  a  huge,  unbroken  ledge  projects  from  the 
main  wall  of  the  cliff  and  breaks  the  passage  for 
twenty  feet.  To  overcome  this  obstruction,  Fate  Wolf 
had  improvised  a  ladder  of  saplings  and  grapevines, 
disguising  it  with  leafy  branches.  From  its  foot  the 
descent  is  irregular  and  difficult  until  the  base  of  the 
cliff    is  reached.     There,    from    season    to    season, 


158  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

nestled  among  the  verdure  of  spring,  or  the  corn  and 
wild  flowers  of  summer,  or  the  fading  colors  of  fall. 
Fate  Wolf's  cabin  sends  up  its  blue  smoke  in  spiral 
columns  toward  the  milky  way  by  night  and  the  nar- 
row strip  of  blue  in  the  high  heavens  by  day.  There 
is  a  bridle-path  which  circles  the  ends  of  the  cliffs 
seven  miles  below  the  cabin;  but,  where  the  path 
enters  the  rocky  jaws  of  the  gorge,  it  is  lost  in  ob- 
scurity and  a  labyrinth  of  changes  frequently  made 
by  Fate  Wolf  for  "pertection"  against  intruders. 

Here  Fate  Wolf's  first  great  meeting  as  a  baud  of 
brothers  to  consider  the  substitute  business  was  held 
in  the  gloomy  year  of  1864.  After  an  all  night's 
wrangle  over  the  personal  risks  about  to  be  run  and 
the  safest  way  to  avoid  danger,  Fate  Wolf  was  select- 
ed to  visit  the  richest  centers  of  the  State  and  make 
contracts  with  those  drawing  unfortunate  lots  in  the 
draft.  In  less  than  a  fortnight  the  twenty-seven  sub- 
stitutes had  been  placed  at  one  thousand  dollars  each. 
A  uniform,  bright  gun  and  glittering  bayonet  were  in 
the  hands  of  every  man,  and  every  man,  like  a  new 
invention,  bore  a  novel  name. 

Fate  Wolf  and  "Colonel"  Patter,  after  the  business 
in  hand  was  done,  started  back  home,  but,  before 
reaching  that  bulwark  of  predatory  freedom,  Eph 
Soaks  and  half  dozen  more  were  there  talking  with 
Scatlett  Wolf  about  other  chances  and  hiding  during 
the  day  among  the  cliffs  of  Tippling  Fork. 

Having  divided  their  half  commission,  "Colonel" 
Patter  and  Fate  Wolf  sallied  forth  in  search  of  other 
substitutes.     They    confined    their    movements,    for 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  159 

prudential  reasons,  to  the  by-ways  and  cliffs  of  Tip- 
pling Fork  and  the  dense  woods  of  Catamount  Creek. 
One  day  they  ventured  from  their  exclusiveness  into 
Roan,  and  Penn  Grabbe,  fortunately,  was  riding 
thither.  Morgan  and  his  men  had  passed  through 
the  town,  threatening  to  burn  it,  scaring  Union  peo- 
ple and  encouraging  Southerners  in  like  degree.  The 
tavern-keeper,  for  .the  first  time  in  his  life,  talked 
cautiously. 

Fate  "Wolf  and  Penn  Grabbe  dismounted,  and,  seem- 
ing to  sort  together,  retired  to  the  stone  steps  of  the 
closed  Court  House  for  a  private  conference.  They 
conferred  earnestly  and  on  the  shortest  lines  of 
strategy. 

"Thar's  lots  uv  money  in  subter- shoots,"  said  Fate 
Wolf,  his  big,  dirty  blue  eyes  filling  with  tears  as  he 
laughed  and  told  Penn  Grabb6  of  the  speed  and  cun- 
ning of  certain  substitutes  who  deserted  the  first 
night  and  beat  him  back  to  the  cliffs  and  shades  of 
Tippling  Fork. 

"I  think  them  Catamount  Crick  fellers  would  make 
turrible  good  subter-shoots,"  he  added. 

Penn  Grabbe  patiently  listened,  but  his  strategic 
thoughts  were  absorbed  in  other  prospects  and  ran 
ahead  to  future  possibilities.  His  prescient  mind  had 
caught  glimpses  of  the  future's  temptation  to  dema- 
gogues and  the  opportunities  which  a  successful  civil 
war  would  give  for  spoils  through  laws  based  on  false 
clamors  of  patriotism,  and  while  Fate  Wolf  pointed 
to  fortune  and  how  to  make  it,  Penn  Grabbe  took  in 
the  future,  anticipating  its  monster  birth  with  miser 
hopes. 


160  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

Having  recovered  from  his  alleged  rheumatism,  his 
mind  recovered  its  natural  activity,  but  his  specula- 
tive heart,  somewhat  chastened  by  experience  with 
Habbakkuk,  bade  him  be  content  with  safer  chances 
and  smaller  profits  than  prevailed  in  previous  ven- 
tures. 

"Fate  Wolf,"  said  he,  "your  house  will  have  to  be 
the  headquarters  of  this  business.  It  is  the  only  safe 
locality  for  it  that  I  know." 

"Alright!  Ha!  ha!  ha!  It'll  swaller 'em  up  frum 
enny  persooters,"  rejoined  Fate  Wolf.  "Ye  can't  see 
my  cabin,  nuther,  frum  the  tops  uv  the  cliffs  uv  a 
cl'ar  day  onless  the  smoke  gits  to  gwyin'  up  straight 
ez  a  Injun  en  blue  ez  a  Yankee  overcoat;  but  yit  then 
the  upper  eend  uv  the  smoke  when  it  begins  to  scat- 
ter kin  be  seed;  en  Scatlett  kin  cook  fur  'em  at  a 
quarter  a  mess." 

Penn  Grabb^  cautiously  considered  all  the  sur- 
roundings and  then  put  in  his  sickle  while  the  substi- 
tute crop  was  ripe.  During  the  fall  and  winter  he 
and  his  comrades  turned  many  a  patriotic  penny  in 
support  of  the  sacred  cause,  reaping  where  they  had 
sown  and  sowing  in  the  same  place  again. 


XXI. 

THE  military  prisoners  in  Louisville  were  in  a  con- 
stant state  of  eruption,  throwing  out  men, 
women  and  boys  for  shipment  to  prisons  North  or  to 
hot  islands  South. 

Lexie  Hallen  was  arrested  on  the  charge  of  being 
a  spy,  and  had  no  one  to  intercede  for  her;  General 
Bright  and  the  Paymentos  were  with  Sherman,  and 
Captain  McCook,  having  been  assigned  to  Sheridan's 
staff,  was  witnessing  the  last  of  the  campaigns  in  the 
blood- washed  valley  of  Virginia. 

Throughout  Kentucky,  during  that  year,  patriots 
were,  under  secret  orders,  arrested  for  their  patriot- 
ism and  humanity  and  sent  as  exiles  to  hostile  terri- 
tory. 

This  was  done  in  advance  of  the  presidential  elec- 
tion, and  for  the  purpose  of  forcing  Lincoln's  native 
State  to  vote  for  him;  but  it  aroused  public  indigna- 
tion to  such  a  pitch  that  it  well  nigh  carried  the  State 
over  to  the  Confederacy,  and  subsequently  caused  it 
to  vote  for  McClelland  by  a  vast  majority. 

The  Southern  authorities  were  accurately  informed 
of  the  effect  of  Jerry  Burr's  brutality,  and  sent  secret 
agents  to  the  convention  at  Chicago  which  nomi- 
nated McClelland.    Their  mission  was  to  note  North- 

11  161 


•162  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

ern  peace  sentiments  and  report  back  to  the  Govern- 
ment at  Richmond. 

Robert  Hope  was  appointed  by  his  Brigade  "Del- 
egate at  large  from  Kentucky  to  the  Union-Confed- 
erate Convention  to  be  held  at  Chicago,"  and  in- 
structed, after  the  manner  of  trimmers,  to 
vote  for  McClelland  first,  Hancock  second  and  Val- 
landigham  third ;  but  if,  in  his  deliberate  judgment, 
Jeff.  Davis  would  be  acceptable  as  the  head  of  the 
ticket  with  Mr.  Abra'm  Lincoln  second,  he  was  di- 
rected to  use  all  honorable  means  to  secure  their 
nomination.  The  great  grapple  of  attrition  in  the 
wilderness  between  Grant  and  Lee  and  the  campaign 
that  took  all  summer  was  over  when  Robert  Hope 
left  Atlanta  on  his  dangerous  mission.  The  peace 
spirit  of  the  North  had  grown  amazingly. 
McClelland  alone  was  seriously  mentioned  for  the 
presidency,  and  by  loud  acclaim  was  nominated. 
The  platform  on  which  he  stood  declared  "That 
after  four  years  of  failure  to  restore  the  Union  by 
the  experiment  of  war,  during  which,  under  the 
pretense  of  a  military  necessity  of  a  war  power 
higher  than  the  Constitution  itself  has  been  disre- 
.^arded  in  every  part!  Justice,  humanity,  liberty  and 
the  public  welfare  demand  that  immediate  efforts  be 
made  for  a  cessation  of  hostilities  with  a  view  to  an 
ultimate  convention  of  all  the  States;  that  peace  may 
be  restored  on  the  basis  of  the  Federal  Union  of  all 

the  States." 

On  the  reception  in  Kentucky  of  the  news  of  Mc- 
vClelland's  nomination,  the  State  was  thrown  into  con- 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  163 

fusion.  Jerry  Burr  was  in  command,  and  citizens 
were  shot  daily  under  his  orders  as  alleged  traitors, 
Confederate  spies  or  guerrillas.  Women  were  exiled 
or  imprisoned.  He  declared  that  no  citizen  should 
sell  hogs,  cattle  or  wheat  unless  '  'he  minded  how  he 
voted." 

Colonel  Taylor  Berrien,  the  brother-in-law  of  John  C. 
Fremont,  and  a  noble  specimen  of  manhood,  had  done 
more  to  advance  the  Union  cause  in  Kentucky  at  the 
outbreak  of  the  war  than  any  other  man.  By  his  in- 
troduction and  advocacy  of  mediatorial  neutrality, 
Kentucky  was  kept  in  the  Union.  Thereafter,  though 
high  in  civil  power,  he  set  the  example  to  volunteers 
by  raising  a  regiment  himself,  which  he  led  on  many 
a  hard  fought  field;  but,  desiring  peace  and  union 
above  all  else  and  detesting  unconstitutional  war 
methods,  he  came  fresh  from  the  field  covered  with 
wounds  and  began  "stumping"  the  State  for  "Lit- 
tle Mc." 

The  election  approached.  Taylor  Berrien  was  ar- 
rested. No  one  appeared  against  him.  No  charge 
was  made  or  warrant  issued,  but,  in  pursuance  of  a 
secret  order  from  Jerry  Burr,  and  without  warning, 
he  was  seized  and  hurried  from  the  State.  The 
guards  left  him  in  the  woods  afoot,  without  food, 
with  no  change  of  clothing,  in  the  Confederate  lines 
to  meet  any  fate  which  might  test  his  stout  heart. 
For  McClelland  and  the  declarations  of  the  Chicago 
platform  one  million,  eight  hundred  and  eight  thou- 
sand seven  hundred  and  twenty-five  votes  were  cast 
the  next  November.     These  votes  represented  twelve 


164  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

million  six  hundred  and  sixty-one  thousand  and 
seventy-five  of  the  Union  population  and  thousands 
of  soldiers  in  the  field.  This  mighty  nucleus  of  con- 
servatism was  thereafter  to  be,  when  the  cruel  war 
was  over,  the  bulwark  against  military  government 
and  also  the  creative  and  recuperative  power  which 
was  to  restore  a  union  of  hearts  and  rescue  constitu- 
tional and  civil  liberty  from  the  passions  of  its  boasted 
preservers. 

Robert  Hope  and  his  brother  confederates,  who 
played  delegates  on  the  floor  of  the  peace  con- 
vention, fell  under  the  lynx-eyes  of  Pinkerton's  de- 
tectives and  precipitately  fled  for  Canada.  Few  of 
them  reached  the  Queen's  dominions,  some  lost  their 
lives,  others  were  locked  in  prison,  but  Robert  Hope, 
after  many  deflections  from  the  straight  road,  reached 
Toronto  sick  and  penniless. 

W.  W.  Cleary,  a  true  Kentuckian  and  a  represent- 
ative of  the  Confederacy  in  Canada,  sought  him  out, 
and,  learning  of  his  mission,  furnished  him  with 
money  and  a  physician.  He  lingered  all  wintfer  with 
one  of  war's  tei-rible  maladies,  and  until  spring  came 
again  was  unable  to  leave  his  room.  When  he  vent- 
ured out  hundreds  of  rumors  were  rife  touching  the 
dissolution  of  the  Confederacy.  Soon  it  became  a 
certainty.  But  the  unhappiness  of  Canadians  over 
the  Confederacy's  fall  made  the  final  collapse  easier 
to  bear  by  the  Americans  who  belonged  within  the 
folds  of  Lema  Sayr's  humanity,  but  who  had  taken 
refuge  in  that  cold  appendage  of  British  monarchy. 

Peace!    The  cry  of  Peace!    resounded  from  Ap- 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  165 

pomattox;  the  North  was  delirious,  the  South  in 
mourning!  The  telegraph  flashed  the  news  to 
city  and  town.  Throughout  New  England,  like  sil- 
ver notes,  it  rang  from  valley  to  mountain,  and, 
sounding  its  sweet  music  in  the  islands  of  the  St. 
Lawrence,  finally  nestled  its  echoes  in  the  cliffs  of 
Quebec.  From  their  heights  Robert  Hope  was  gaz- 
ing toward  Massachusetts  when  he  heard  the  echoes 
of  peace  rebound  from  those  foreign  rocks  to  his  own 
country  inviting  him  home. 

He  looked  in  the  direction  of  the  deep,  dark  sea, 
beyond  whose  waves  monarchies  ruled  and  the  an- 
cient foes  of  his  country  resided.  He  thought  of 
self-expatriation,  but  saw  his  old  Kentucky  home 
in  the  dim  distance,  standing  back  in  the  gathering 
mists  of  memory;  the  common  fate  of  his  comrades 
bade  him  come;  Lema  Sayr's  smile  and  the  ardor  of 
her  eyes  blazed  in  his  heart,  and  a  patriotism  baptized 
in  blood,  greater  than  sectionalism,  freed  from  pas- 
sion, extinguishing  the  stings  of  defeat  and  overrid- 
ing disappointment,  cried  in  his  ears,  "America  is 
your  country!" 

At  once  his  purpose  was  formed,  and,  when  the 
news  of  the  surrender  of  the  last  Confederate  army 
reached  Canada  he  embarked  for  Boston,  hoping  to 
find  Lema  Sayr  on  his  way  home.  He  had  not  heard 
from  her  since  they  parted  in  Shiloh's  historic 
church.  No  token  or  keepsake  of  remembrance  had 
she  given  him.  Only  the  spiritual  face  and  the 
gentle  voice  remained  to  him,  they  had  become  a 
part  of  sound   and  sight;  the    smoke  of  battle  had 


166  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

not  dimmed  the  one  nor  the  roar  of  artillery  hushed 
the  other.  But  what  might  she  think  of  him,  now 
that  the  cause  was  lost  for  which  he  had  fought  and 
bled;  now  that  the  songs  of  Dixie  were  over  and  her 
glory  gone  on  high;  now  that  Kentucky's  great  son, 
who  led  the  North,  was  wrapped  in  bloody  flags  of 
fame  and  Kentucky's  dauntless  son,  who  led  the 
South,  was  wrapped  in  a  dungeon's  darkness?  What 
would  she  think  of  him  now?  was  a  sore  question 
which  he  silently  put  to  his  heart  as  he  stepped 
from  the  ship  upon  the  soil  of  historic,  cultured,  he- 
roic Massachusetts. 


XXII. 

SOME  one  of  that  class  who,  in  civil  war,  wreak 
vengeance  or  reap  profits  had  reported  the  con- 
duct of  Lexie  Hallen  and  caused  her  arrest.  This 
occurred  while  the  campaign  in  the  wilderness  was 
going  on,  and  General  Jerry  Burr  was  making  merci- 
less war  on  women,  citizens  and  prisoners  in  Ken- 
tucky. 

"Who  could  have  done  it?"  said  Aunt  Bina,  while 
shivering  in  the  dull  winter  light  over  the  scant  coals 
of  the  kitchen  fire.  "Who  could  have  been  so  bad? 
Poor  Lexie  is  anything  but  a  spy.  She  couldn't  be 
one.  She  is  too  open  and  sincere.  She  will  help 
everybody  in  distress,  but  never!  would  she  report 
the  condition  of  others  in  order  that  they  might  be 
captured  or  killed.  No,  no!  Lexie  wouldn't  do 
that." 

"I  reckon  Miss  Lexie  wouldn't,"  said  Ned,  in  a 
slow,  sympathetic  drawl.  "I'se  knowed  her  long 
time,  en  when  we  user  to  play  togedder  when  we  wus 
little  she  wouldn't  hurt  nobody.  She  helped  me  outer 
de  big  spring  wonce  on  de  ole  farm,  'fore  we  moved 
to  dis  ole  mean  good  fur  nuthin'  town  dat  don't  do 
nuthin'  but  put  white  folks  in  dat  ole  pen  down  yan- 
der  on  Broadway  en  let  ole  Jerry  Burr  do  jes  ez  he 
please  wid  ever'body. " 

167 


168  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

"It  looks  SO,  Edward,"  said  Aunt  Bina,  sadly. 

She  told  him  to  go  gather  up  the  trash  in  the  cel- 
lar and  mend  the  fire  with  it. 

Lexie's  arrest  had  driven  all  of  the  boarders  from 
her  aunt's  house,  and  transient  people  were  afraid  of 
being  suspected  if  they  stopped  there.  For  several 
months  they  had  no  income  and  nothing  to  do.  The 
money  they  had  accumulated  by  keeping  boarders 
was  going  fast.  They  were  unable  to  buy  a  winter's 
supply  of  coal,  their  credit  having  fallen  with  the 
cruel  blow  that  struck  down  the  spirit  of  Lexie. 
Coming  want  showed  its  skinny  teeth,  restless  eyes, 
red  with  weeping  for  bread,  and  its  gaunt  form.  Ned 
went  every  day  with  Aunt  Bina  to  see  Lexie,  and  if 
the  delicacies  were  not  sufficient  or  good  enough,  he 
would,  by  false  pretenses,  drop  into  some  bakery  by 
the  way  and  spend  his  last  shinplaster,  made  at  odd 
jobs  shoveling  in  coal  for  the  neighbors  or  snow  from 
their  steps,  for  a  cake  or  caramels  or  a  little  Shaker- 
town  preserves  for  '  'poor  Miss  Lexie. "  He  never  let 
Miss  Bina  see  him  slip  it  under  the  white  cloth  that 
covered  what  they  were  taking  to  the  prison.  This 
heart-breaking,  spirit- crushing  situation  lasted  for 
days  stretching  out  into  weeks  and  prolonged  itself 
into  months. 

Penn  Grabb6  had  not  forgiven  her  for  the  childish 
response  made  to  him  about  asking  questions  the  first 
time  he  ever  saw  her.  And  when  her  aunts  declined 
taking  him  in  as  a  boarder,  he  let  fly  the  arrow  of 
pique  and  spite  which  he  had  held  drawn  at  Lexie 
since  her  unfortunate,  but  no  less  deserved,  reply. 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  169 

There  was  another  feeling,  too,  which  had  unnoticed 
grown  up  in  him  during  the  last  two  years.  He  did 
not  recognize  it,  but  it  made  him  wish  for  the  power 
to  control  Lexie's  actions.  It  was  a  small  thing  to 
get  mad  at,  but,  to  a  keen  judge  of  human  nature, 
Penn  Grabbe,  in  the  true  sense,  seemed  to  be  a  small 
man.  He  it  was  who  had  secretly  reported  Lexie's 
part  in  Robert  Hope's  escape,  of  which  he  learned  by 
eavesdropping  during  his  first  stay  at  her  aunts'. 
After  tea,  the  boarders,  Lema  Sayr,  Lexie  and  her 
aunts  were  in  the  habit  of  assembling  in  the  parlor 
to  hear  Lexie  play  the  violin,  and  when  the  boarders 
retired  the  rest  would  often  remain  until  late  in  the 
night  to  talk  with  freedom  about  the  interesting  or 
exciting  events  of  the  great  political  war.  The  lat- 
ter habit  was  accidentally  discovered  one  night  by 
Penn  Grabb6  while  entering  by  the  use  of  the  night 
key  which  had  been  given  to  him  because  he  said, 
"My  business  sometimes  keeps  me  out  late."  As  he 
opened  the  door  he  overheard  voices  which  drowned 
the  noise  the  soft  slide  of  the  bolt  made  with  his 
strong,  steady  hand.  He  tipped  in  like  a  cat,  and, 
placing  his  sharp  ear  to  the  key-hole  of  the  parlor 
door,  heard,  in  substance,  that  Lexie  was  the  chief 
actor  in  Robert  Hope's  escape.  Just  as  he  was 
nestling  his  ear  closer  to  the  key-hole  and  holding  his 
breath  with  anxious  force,  Ned  passed,  as  night 
watch,  along  the  upper  floor.  He  stooped  over  the 
banisters  to  see  what  the  black  bulk  at  the  parlor 
door  meant,  and  shouted,  "Who's  dat  dar?" 

Grabbe  jumped  like  a  discovered  burglar,  and  in- 


570  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

stantly  springing  np-stairs,  as  a  wolf  chased  by  dogs 
from  the  sheep-fold,  came  to  close  quarters  with  Ned, 
saying  softly,  '  'I  thought  I  heard  somebody  in  the 
parlor. " 

"De  ain't  nobody  up  'bout  dis  house  sept  de  wim- 
min  folks,  en  you  a  scattlin'  in  ez  sof  ez  a  cat  so  no- 
body heerd  ye,"  responded  Ned. 

"O  I  did  not  want  to  disturb  any  one,  you  know, 
Ned,"  said  Grabbe  in  the  most  considerate  tones,  and 
this  apparently  satisfied  him.  But  he  added,  '  'Better 
keep  yo  year  out  a  dat  key-hole." 

Grabb6  affected  not  to  hear  Ned's  last  injunction. 

Every  night  after  that  Grabb6,  when  he  got  a 
chance  by  Ned's  negligence  or  accumulated  duties, 
would  slip  down  and  eavesdrop  "the  rebels"  until  he 
was  well  acquainted  with  nearly  everything  that  had 
happened  to  them  during  the  war,  and  much  that  had 
happened  before.  This  information  helped  him  to 
feel  justified  in  causing  Lexie's  arrest.  The  aunts 
were  in  great  distress  of  mind,  for  Lexie,  as  already 
stated,  had  been  in  prison  during  the  dreary  winter. 
Jerry  Burr  was  holding  her  until  Penn  Grabb6  could 
collect  condemnatory  evidence,  and  also  under  a 
promise  not  to  disclose  that  Grabb6  was  a  "fur- 
therer  in  the  act"  of  her  arrest.  He  had  really 
never  intended  to  have  her  tried,  but  only  to  punish 
her  and  break  her  spirit.  His  object  was  to  force  her 
to  bend  to  his  will  and  possible  future  desires  His 
plan  was  to  take  advantage  of  her  condition  and  place 
her  under  lasting  obligations  for  great  risks  and  sac- 
rifices in  extricating  her  from  "certain  death  or  end- 
less confinement  in  prison." 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  171 

Just  when  their  need  was  sorest  he  appeared  at 
their  house  again  asking  board,  as  he  often  had  done 
before  on  his  trips  from  Tippling  Fork  to  Louisville 
"to  confer  with  General  Jerry  Burr,"  obtain  informa- 
tion or  trade  permits  and  gather  benefits  from  any- 
thing that  might  turn  up. 

Penn  Grabb6  said,  "I  always  call  in  order  to  give 
your  family  the  chance  of  my  patronage. " 

He  saw  they  needed  patronage  and  this  time  pleaded 
to  stay.  Ned  objected  strenuously,  "caze  nobody 
doan  want  dat  man  'bout  hyar  no  moah,"  but  the 
aunts,  from  stress  of  need,  agreed  that  he  might  stay 
if  he  could  put  up  with  the  plain  fare." 

"O  anything  will  do  me;  I  only  want  a  room,  as  I 
have  arranged  to  take  my  meals  elsewhere,"  he  said, 
'  'for  I  hear  Miss  Lexie  is  in  great  trouble  and  I  am 
going  to  help  her  out,  if  you  will  never  tell  on  me." 

"Thank  you,  a  thousand  times,  Mr.  Grabb^,  for 
your  kindness.  O!  Do  help  us  all  you  can,"  deject- 
edly returned  the  aunts. 

"I  will  do  it,  but  it  will  take  a  little  money." 

"How  much?"  cried  Aunt  Bina,  Aunt  Julia  being 
then  too  sick  and  weak  to  talk  or  bear  excitement. 
"We  have  little,  but  you  can  have  it  all  if  you  will  re- 
store our  dear  Lexie  to  us." 

"You  must  never  get  excited;  that  hadn't  ought 
ever  to  be  done  in  anything.  Keep  your  wits  about 
you  and  I'll  fetch  it  around.  Let  us  to  business  at 
once.     How  much  have  you?" 

They  scraped  together  from  a  little  tin  box,  from  a 
bowl  on  the  top  shelf  of  the  cupboard  and  from  the 


172  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

bottom  of  Lexie's  trunk  and  their  own  thin,  bare 
pockets  the  sum  of  seven  dollars  and  fifty-five  cents. 
He  took  it  and  went  away. 

That  night  Ned  was  relied  on  to  get  something  to 
eat  for  them.  Ned  got  it.  It  was  not  much.  A 
small  loaf  of  bread  and  some  butter.  Coffee  grounds 
were  boiled  over,  and  scraps  of  a  diminishing  ham 
furnished  forth  the  supper  table.  Ned  waited  on 
them  as  usual,  but  his  family  pride  was  cut,  and 
something  in  his  manner  was  commiserating  and 
roughly  tender. 

"Missus,  it's  de  bes'  I  could  do  ter  night, "  apolo- 
getically said  Ned.  '  'But  Ned'll  be  hyar  wid  breck- 
fust  in  de  mornin'!" 

The  sisters'  eyes  filled  with  tears,  and  the  younger 
drank  of  the  coffee  and  went  immediately  and  sadly 
to  bed. 

Next  day  Penn  Grabbe  returned  with  a  sorrowful 
countenance. 

He  said,  "I  have  been  up  all  night  with  General 
Burr  and  his  officers.  They  have  decided  to  send 
Lexie  to  the  Dry  Tortugas." 

Aunt  Julia  sank  helplessly  on  the  sofa.  Aunt 
Bina  remained  standing  as  she  listened  to  the 
cold,  accurate,  though  manufactured,  statement 
of  Penn  Grabb6.  He  dwelt  at  length  on  the  difficul- 
ties he  had  encountered,  the  risks  he  was  running  and 
the  sacrifices  to  be  made. 

"It  will  take  two  thousand  dollars  to  save  her." 
Aunt  Bina  groaned.  "But,"  continued  he  solemnly, 
"I  have  concluded  to  furnish  it  myself." 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  173 

The  gratitude  of  the  unhappy  women  was  ex- 
pressed in  beautiful  words  and  with  good  manners' 
best  effects. 

He  did  not  understand  this  spiritual  outgiving  of 
refinement.  He  thought  it  resulted  from  his  per- 
sonal powers,  and  felt  like  a  man  of  parts,  and  thence 
dragged  everything  said  to  him  along  in  the  train  of 
his  vanity. 

"But,"  said  he,  "she  will  be  ordered  to  leave  the 
State,  never  to  return  again.  The  two  thousand  dol- 
lars will  only  keep  her  from  being  sent  to  the  Dry 
Tortugas.  It  is  too  hard,  but  it  was  all  that  I  could 
get  General  Burr  to  agree  to  do,  and  I  guess  I  did 
well  to  do  that." 

The  misery  of  Aunt  Bina  had  made  her  dumb,  her 
tongue  dry,  her  eyes  tearless  and  her  heart  to  ache. 
The  poignancy  of  grief  was  gone.  Its  sullen  suc- 
cessor, gloomy,  terrible  and  crushing,  had  taken  its 
place. 

"Oh,  go  and  do  what  you  think  best!"  gasped  Aunt 
Bina. 

Plucking  up,  as  it  were,  "drowned  honor  by  the 
locks"  and  manly  determination,  he  said,  as  sincerely 
as  a  heart  of  leather  would  allow,  "I  will  have  her 
here  by  midnight  and  spirit  her  out  of  this  wicked 
city  to  a  safe  place." 

He  handed  back  the  seven  dollars  and  fifty-five 
cents,  saying,  "This  will  do  no  good;  besides,  you 
will  need  it." 

He  left  the  room  with  a  fixed  purpose  on  his  brow 
and  success  in  his  firm  step.  Sure  enough,  late  that 
night  he  brought  Lexie  home. 


174  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

Her  reception  must  be  passed  over;  it  was  too 
touching  to  mention.  She  was  no  longer  Lexie  in 
appearance.  Pale,  fearful,  starting  at  every  noise, 
but  drooping  and  silent  when  undisturbed  by  exter- 
nal things. 

He  had  told  Jerry  Burf  how  the  witness  misled 
him  and  his  own  ears  deceived  him;  that  it  was  a  case 
of  mistaken  identity,  curious  and  misleading,  and 
that  the  best  way  out  of  it  was  to  release  her  late  at 
night,  say  nothing  about  it,  and  the  fear  of  the  future 
would  enable  him  to  have  her  kindred  take  her  away, 
so  the  newspaper  reporters  could  not  get  the  facts  of 
the  case  and  injure  the  service  by  disclosing  them. 

It  had  not  cost  him  a  cent  to  secure  her  release, 
yet  he  took  the  note  of  the  Misses  Hallen  that  very 
night  for  two  thousand  dollars,  his  cupidity  banking 
on  the  hopes  of  a  posthumous  beneficence  of  a  distant 
relative  of  whom  they  had  spoken  when  talking  of 
their  chance  to  raise  enough  money  to  pay  f  or  Lexie's 
release. 

Grabb^'s  wife  had  died  two  years  before,  and  when 
he  told  the  aunts  of  it  he  tried  to  cry,  but  couldn't; 
that  was  a  thing  he  could  not  do.  However,  they 
thought  he  was  shedding  tears  and  pitied  him  in 
words  and  looks. 

He  said,  '  'Because  my  wife  is  dead,  I  will  take  Lexie 
to  the  home  of  one  of  the  noblest  friends  I  ever  had 
in  my  life.  He  is  a  good  and  true  man,  and  will  con- 
ceal her  where  the  minions  of  Jerry  Burr  can  never 
find  her.  You  can  see  her  as  soon  as  the  rascal 
thinks  she  is  out  of  the  State  and  loses  interest  in 
pursuing  her." 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  175 

"What  is  his  name?"  asked  Lexie. 

"Oh,  lam  so  full  of  my  feelings  I  forgot  to  tell. 
Wolf  is  his  name,  my  child, "  answered  Penn  Grabbe 
in  the  conciliatory  tones  which  had  so  of  ten  brought 
him  off  victor  over  those  who  used  grievous  words 
or  doubted  his  sincerity. 

Lexie  felt  religious  coals  of  fire  on  her  head  for  hav- 
ing misjudged  him.  She  burst  into  tears,  and, 
wringing  her  hands,  begged  his  pardon. 

"Never  mind,"  said  he,  "it  is  more  than  granted, 
for  I  guess  at  times  I  do  ask  too  many  questions." 

Lexie  thanked  him  and  looked  relieved.  The  few 
hours  she  had  been  out  of  prison  were  brightening 
the  brown  eyes;  their  contraction  was  slowly  turning 
to  expansion;  the  pale  cheeks  looked  ready  to  blush 
and  the  recuperative  power  of  a  pure,  courageous, 
unselfish  soul  was  rapidly  reasserting  itself.  Free- 
dom was  working  wonders. 

Penn  Grabbe  said,  "I  guess  I'll  go  to  the  hotel  for 
the  night,  so  I  can  better  prepare  for  leaving  on  the 
first  boat  up  the  river.  I  had  intended  going  to- 
night, but  no  boat  leaves  till  to-morrow.  Lexie  must 
let  no  one  see  her  and  she  must  dress  in  disguise  for 
our  exodus  from  this  city  of  brick  without  straw; 
from  this  Egyptian  darkness." 

He  was  familiar  with  the  Old  Testament.  When 
growing  up  he  got  the  pentateuch  by  heart,  and  Sol- 
omon, Da.vid  and  Job  line  upon  line.  He  often  drew 
figures  of  speech  from  them  and  frequently  fashioned 
his  thoughts  by  them,  as  one  can  see  on  looking  into 
Ins  life  carefully.     When  he  reached  man's  estate  he 


176  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

rejected  the  precepts  of  the  Sermon  on  the  Mount 
because  it  taught  if  one  cheek  were  smitten  you 
should  turn  the  other;  if  a  rascal  took  from  you  your 
coat,  you  should  give  him  your  cloak;  and  if  you 
wished  to  form  a  sound  judgment  about  anybody, 
you  were  told  not  to  do  it.  He  said  he  never  would 
teach  his  children  to  be  beaten,  robbed  and  fooled 
out  of  all  they  made.  He  admired  the  business 
thrift  of  Solomon  which  kept  him  up  in  the  world, 
although  he  had  such  a  big  family  and  almost  wor- 
shiped his  capacity  for  building  fine  houses  with 
other  people's  money,  timber  and  labor.  David's 
dexterity  in  sinning  and  begging  pardon  for  it  had  a 
touch  of  strategy  in  it  which  commanded  his  respect; 
and  Job's  good  sense  in  keeping  on  the  side  of  the 
Lord  until  he  got  back  twice  as  many  oxen,  camels, 
sheep  and  asses  as  he  lost,  was,  to  his  mind,  the  most 
thrifty  result,  in  all  history,  of  a  fixed  purpose.  He 
carried  these  matured  views  into  practical  life  and 
acted  in  its  affairs  by  the  light  of  human  thought  as 
found  in  the  examples  of  human  passions,  treating 
him  who  loveth  all  things  and  trusteth  all  things  as 
a  weakling,  a  hewer  of  wood  and  a  drawer  of  water. 
Now,  for  the  first  time  in. his  life,  he  had  to  deal  with 
woman  in  other  senses  than  courtship  for  marriage 
only,  and  marriage  for  multiplication,  and  a  wife  for 
drudgery.  There  was  a  touch  of  romance  in  Lexie's 
dependence  on  him;  a  possibility  for  love  which  had 
never  before  entered  his  heart  unadulterated  with 
worldly  advantage;  an  opportunity  to  dig  into  the 
mines  of  his  soul  for  the  gold  of  gallantry  and  the 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  177 

rich  pearls  of  sentiment.  Throughout  the  night  he 
lay  sleepless  upon  the  pillow  which  seemed  hard;  no 
pillow  had  ever  felt  hard  to  his  head  before. 

"What  is  the  matter  with  me?"  he  ejaculated;  "I 
feel  like  paying  her  way  and  giving  her  a  better 
home  than  Pate  Wolf's;  but  no,  there  is  the  place! 
She  can't  get  away  and  won't  know  the  war  is  over, 
as  it  is  very  likely  to  be  soon,  until  I  tell  her  or  cause 
her  to  be  told." 

With  a  teaspoonful  of  the  leaven  of  righteousness 
working  slowly  in  his  soul,  he  arose  from  the  night 
as  tired  as  Jacob  after  wrestling  with  the  angel  and 
feeling  like  love  or  passion,  he  scarcely  knew  which, 
had  had  a  hip  and  thigh  struggle  with  cupidity, 
hypocrisy  and  strategy. 

He  ate  little  and  impatiently  waited  for  the  hour 
the  steamer  should  leave.  Time  hung  as  heavily 
upon  him  as  the  weights  of  an  honest  man's  scales 
and  gave  him,  not  measure  for  measure,  but  meted 
out  to  him  a  full  measure  of  unhappiness  for  the 
grief  and  misery  he  had  inflicted  and  entailed  on 
Lexie  and  her  faithful,  helpless  aunts. 

Lexie,  muffled  in  Aunt  Bina's  dress  and  bonnet, 
looking  like  a  modern  ancient,  stepped  aboard  the 
steamer  in  advance  of  Penn  Grabb6,  who  carried  her 
light  luggage.  Aunt  Bina  stood  afar  off  and  watched 
the  breathing  boat  begin  its  way  up  the  Ohio. 

The  bright  sun  poured  its  evening  rays  upon  the 
white  hull  and  curling  columns  of  heavy  smoke  that 
rose  toward  the  blue  heavens;  the  west,  full  of  slowly 
moving    clouds,    was    a    conflagration;    little  white 

12 


178  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

clouds  floated  away  to  the  eastward  ahead  of  the  les- 
sening steamer,  making  a  scene  sublimely  beautiful. 
The  view  melted  away,  Lexie  was  gone,  night  had 
come,  the  night  of  hearts  and  the  night  of  nature 
had  joined;  Lexie's  bosom  was  full  with  inconsol- 
able grief;  the  home  was  filled  with  gloom,  darkening 
every  nook  and  corner;  the  heart  of  unhappy  Ned 
was  full  of  despair.  He  cried  outright  and  could  not 
be  coaxed  to  eat  anything.  "Poor  Miss  Lexie's 
gone!"  was  all  that  he  could  choke  out  of  his  con- 
vulsed throat. 


XXIII. 

FATE  WOLF  was  bewildered  when  he  saw  Penn 
Grabb6  and  a  young  woman  coming  down  the 
cliff  on  his  '  'golden  stairs. "  He  watched  her  trem- 
blingly cling  at  each  step  to  the  ladder  covered  with 
rushes  and  knew  she  must  be  a  stranger.  But  what 
absorbed  him  most  was  the  fine  foot  that  appeared  at 
each  timid  step  downward.  Having  reached  the  nar- 
row strip  of  soil  that  lay  between  those  rocky  jaws 
which  opened  as  if  to  swallow  the  narrow  strip  of 
blue  sky  above  them,  they  looked  aloft  at  the  sun- 
light which  shed  its  luster  on  the  pines  and  leafless 
trees  standing  far  above  their  heads  on  the  opposite 
heights.  From  Fate  Wolf's  cabin  the  stars  could  be 
seen  at  sundown  as  at  midday  from  the  bottom  of  a 
deep  well.  Lexie  walked  closer  to  the  side  of  Penn 
Grabb6  as  two  brindled  dogs,  large  and  ferocious, 
rushed,  barking;  from  under  the  western  floor  of  the 
double  cabin. 

"You  Penn!  Hush  up,  Patter!  Begone!"  shouted 
Fate  Wolf,  and  the  well-trained  brutes  instantly 
obeyed  him. 

Scatlett  Wolf,  with  her  hands  under  her  apron  and 
her  pipe  in  her  mouth,  came  out  to  receive  the 
stranger  woman. 

"Howdy,  darter;  cum  in.  Take  a  seat  thar  in  the 
■  179 


180  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

corner.  Its  mighty  cold  fur  sich  a  weak  white-faced 
leetle  gyrl  like  you  to  be  out,  it  'pears  to  me  like," 
said  she,  in  the  kindest,  sincerest  tones. 

Woman  understands  woman  better  than  man  knows 
man  or  woman  either,  and  Lexie  felt  safer  from  Jerry 
Burr's  bloody  rage  since  she  had  got  so  deep  down 
into  the  earth  and  found,  even  there,  the  law  of  kind- 
ness that  inherently  belongs  to  woman. 

Before  entering,  Penn  Grabbe  called  Fate  Wolf 
aside  and  told  him  of  the  great  cost  and  risk  to  him 
of  Lexie's  escape,  and  how  he  wished  her  concealed 
from  all  strangers  until  called  from  exile  or  General 
Sherman  could  be  induced  to  countermand  his  cruel 
order  to  arrest  females.  Fate  Wolf  listened  with 
deep  interest.  After  a  pause  he  asked,  "Did  Gineral 
Sherman  do  that?" 

"Had  not  you  heard  it?  I  have  got  it — here  it  is," 
and  pulling  from  his  pocket  a  newspaper,  Grabb6 
read  Sherman's  order. 

"That  thar  beats  ennything  ever  I  seed,"  said  Fate 
Wolf.     "Readitag'in." 

Penn  Grabb^  read  it  again  literally.     It  ran  thus: 

"Gen'l.  Jerry  Burr: 

Your  military  commanders,  provosts,  marshalls  and  other  agents 
may  arrest  males  and  females,  and  you  may  cause  them  to  be  col- 
lected in  Louisville;  and  when  you  have  enough,  say  300  or  400,  I 
will  cause  them  to  he  sent  down  the  Mississippi,  through  their  guer- 
rilla gauntlet,  and  by  a  sailing  ship  send  them  to  a  land'"  (the  Dry 
Tortugas,  where  turtles,  mosquitoes  and  yellow  fever  infest,  no 
green  thing  grows  and  water  mantles  in  sluggish  brooks  and 
standing  ponds)  ^ 'where  they  may  take  their  negroes  and  make  a 
colony  with  laws  and  a  future  of  their  own.'''' 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  181 

Without  comment,  Fate  Wolf  gave  a  deep  sigh  and 
promised  to  care  for  Lexie.  After  a  moment's  med- 
itation he  said :  '  'We  do  meanness  a  plenty  in  gittin' 
bounty  en  subter-shoot  money  fur  exerters,  but  tarn- 
ation to  my  soul — ef  I'd  a  thought  enny  man — less 
more  a  big  Gineral — would  a  dun — sich  a  thing — en 
the  man  what  teches  that  little  gyrl  will  never  dim' 
them  cliffs  ag'in," 

Penn  Grabbe,  seeing  Fate  Wolf  was  in  the  proper 
state  of  mind,  handed  him  the  newspaper,  saying, 
"Let  her  read  it,  too,  and  she  will  be  more  careful." 

"I  will,"  said  he,  and  they  went  in  together. 

Grabbe  only  stayed  a  moment,  then  bade  Lexie 
good-bye,  telling  her  not  to  fear,  she  was  in  safe 
hands,  and  left  for  the  perilous  heights  where  their 
horses  were  hidden.  Lexie  shuddered  as  he  disap- 
peared in  the  ga.thering  gloom  and  could  scarcely 
keep  from  crying  aloud  for  help.  Her  heart  beat  low 
and  weak.  She  sat  spiritlessly  watching  the  red 
wood  coals  of  fire  changing  into  figures  of  different 
animals  and  people  until  a  stranger  feeling  came  into 
her  lonesome  bosom.  Fate  Wolf  went  out  to  the  sta- 
ble— a  great  rock  house  in  the  base  of  the  cliff — to 
feed  Fiat-Foot  and  the  cow,  while  Mrs.  Wolf  got 
things  ready  for  supper. 

"Kin  ye  peel  'taters,  darter?  Scat!"  and  the  cat 
scampered  toward  the  door. 

"Oh,  yes,"  said  Lexie. 

'  'Well,  when  ye  git  good  en  warm  ye  kin  peel  these 
fur  me, "  said  Mrs.  Wolf,  placing  a  pan  of  potatoes  by 
her  side. 


182  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

Lexie,  keen-brained,  full  of  experience,  though 
young,  credulous,  dejected  and  uneasy,  kept  her  self- 
possession  and  at  once  made  up  her  mind  to  please 
these  rough  people  and  make  them  her  friends.  She 
laid  aside  her  wrap  and  exposed  the  narrow  white 
lace  frill  at  the  base  of  her  beautiful  neck.  Her 
luminous  brown  eyes  and  white  hands,  whiter  from 
imprisonment,  and  her  dark  lustrous  hair  and  wan 
cheeks,  as  she  stood  full  in  the  fire-light,  made  Scat- 
lett  Wolf  cry,  '  'Don't  ye  tech  them  dirty  taters.  I'll 
wash  en  bake  'em  with  the  peel  on.  Jist  set  right 
down  en  git  good  en  warm  fur  supper — Scat!  These 
blimed  cats!  ur  alys  under  my  feet,  en  ez  fur  them 
brindled  dogs,  I  won't  let  'em  in  a  tall. " 

The  last  sentence  seemed  to  have  been  spoken  to 
herself  with  no  one  present. 

Fate  Wolf  came  in  and  sat  down  before  the  fire, 
stretching  out  his  hands  in  front  of  him  to  warm. 

He  said,  "Scatlett,  it's  gittin'  cold  ag'iu.  This 
March  weather  air  blustersome.  Little  gyrl,  do  ye 
hear  that  wind  a  risin'?  You  musn't  git  skeered  to- 
night, fur  it'll  play  through  these  cliffs  like  a  bass 
drum  en  the  old  boy  a  blowin'  up  his  fire  fur  Gineral 
Sherman  en  Jerry  Burr.  Hev  ye  seed  the  'wimmin 
order'  yit?"  handing  her  the  newspaper. 

Lexie  took  it  and  read  it.  Her  voice  trembled  and 
her  courage  drooped,  her  eyes  filled  with  tears  and 
Mrs.  Wolf  came  close  to  her  side. 

"Don't  ye  be  afeered,  hunny.  Fate  en  me  ain't 
much,  but  we  hain't  got-that  low  yit." 

The  March  wind  howled  up  the  mighty  rocky  fun- 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  183 

nel,  striking  first  one  of  its  walls  and  then  the  other, 
sometimes  filling  a  deep  rent  in  the  face  of  the  rocks 
and  issuing  forth  with  screams  similar  to  the  pan- 
ther's which  once  had  roamed  there,  then  died  away  to 
low  moans  that  made  poor  Lexie's  hair  almost  rise 
and  subdued  all  of  her  faultless  courage,  which  had 
before  been  shaken  by  arrest  and  humiliation  and  the 
awful  ordeal  through  which  Kentucky  was  passing. 
A  thousand  anxieties  for  the  fate  of  her  aunts  filled 
her  bosom,  and  when  she  thought  of  faithful,  honest 
Ned,  ignorant,  but  loyal  to  his  owners  amidst  the 
flow  of  blood  destined  to  wash  away  his  slavery,  and 
remembered  his  kindness  to  her,  sick  and  in  prison, 
her  feelings  arose  in  a  great  volume  and  overwhelmed 
her  being.  Falling  on  her  knees,  she  uttered  a 
prayer  to  God  that  awed  Fate  Wolf  and  his  wife  into 
respectful  silence  and  filled  their  souls  with  the  re- 
ligion of  kindness  and  the  first  of  their  sentiments 
for  peace.  Fate  Wolf  had  risen  to  his  feet  when  she 
dropped  on  her  knees,  not  knowing  what  it  meant, 
but  when  "Thou  God  of  the  widow  and  the  orphan, 
the  helpless  and  the  persecuted,"  fell  with  anguish, 
terror  and  despair  from  her  lips,  he  bowed  his  head 
and  Scatlett  put  her  old  apron  up  to  her  eyes.  As  the 
last  words,  "Help  me,  dear  Jesus,"  died  away  and 
the  winds  that  moaned  about  the  cabin  took  them  and 
wafted  them  to  heaven.  Fate  Wolf  whispered  to  his 
wife  and  stepped  into  the  other  room  of  the  cabin, 
while  she  helped  Lexie  from  her  knees  and  into  her 
own  bed.  After  a  while  he  returned  and  Scatlett 
said,  "Fate,  you  jes  sleep  in  t'other  room  ter  night. 
I'll  sleep  with  this  yur  poor  gyrl." 


XXIV. 

FOR  ten  weary  days  Penn  Grabbe  visited  Fate 
Wolf's  cabin,  seeking,  by  pretense  and  strategy, 
to  find  grace  with  Lexie.  She  daily  wrote  letters  in 
pencil  to  her  aunts,  trusting  them  to  him  to  mail.  He 
promised  faithfully  to  see  that  they  were  delivered, 
but,  as  soon  as  out  of  sight,  he  was  reading  and  de- 
stroying them  as  unconcernedly  as  he  would  strip 
the  leaves  of  spring  from  a  riding  switch.  Having 
studied  her  practical  usefulness  while  machinating  to 
commit  her  life  to  his  power,  he  came  to  doubt  her 
thrift  and  capacity  for  housekeeping,  the  manner  of 
her  bringing  up  being  so  inconsistent  with  parsi- 
mony or  rugged  labor,  but  concluded  upon  the  whole 
that  she  might  make  a  good  wife.  Fate  Wolf  had 
shown  too  much  sentiment  when  referring  to  General 
Sherman's  order  to  suit  Grabbe's  notions,  and  in  this 
manifestation  he  foresaw  possible  obstructions  to  any 
violent  measures  against  Lexie  that  his  better  judg- 
ment might  consider  necessary.  But  he  dismissed 
these  fears  by  deducing,  from  past  relations  with 
Fate  Wolf,  complete  subservience  to  his  wishes.  Yet 
recollections  of  Habbakkuk's  pecadillos  and  Major 
Paymento's  punctilios  made  him  more  doubtful  of 
Fate  Wolf  than  he  otherwise  would  have  been. 

184 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  185 

"He  never  failed  me  before  and  I  can  trust  him 
now  in  this  little  matter,  as  there  is  no  money  in  it  to 
him  from  the  other  side,"  soliloquized  Penn  Grabbe 
as  he  hurried  toward  Louisville  to  learn  why  no 
more  substitutes  would  be  taken. 

Returning  as  quickly  as  he  had  gone,  he  hastened 
from  home  next  morning  to  Fate  Wolf's  and  informed 
him  no  more  substitutes  would  be  accepted,  as  the 
Union  had  a  million  and  a  quarter  of  men  ready  for 
the  spring  campaign  already  begun  by  Grant  at  Pe- 
tersburg, while  the  rebels  could  only  muster  one 
hundred  and  fifty  thousand. 

"Well,"  said  Fate  Wolf,  thoughtfully,  "less  us  look 
out  fur  squalls.  The  thing's  agoin'  to  bust  afore  the 
buds  bust." 

"I  believe  that  is  so,  "  rejoined  Grabbe,  "and  I 
want  you  to  do  me  a  special  favor. " 

"Whatsumever's  that?"  asked  Fate  Wolf. 

'  'Do  not  let  Lexie  know  the  war  is  over,  if  it  stops, 
until  I  tell  you,  or  I  might  get  into  trouble  with  the 
authorities." 

"Jist  whatsumever  air  yer  reasins  fur  keepin' 
peace  from  Lexie?  fur  she  needs  it  more'n  ennybody 
ever  I  seed,  ef  it  cums. " 

"O  well  now,  my  old  friend,  you  must  not  be  too 
close  in  your  questions.  She  is  a  right  handsome 
girl,  you  know,  and  my  wife's  been  dead  these  two 
years  and  I  need  a  housekeeper  very  much." 

Fate  Wolf,  transformed,  laughed  until  the  water 
came  into  his  big,  dirty  blue  eyes,  and  until  the 
echoes  knocked  from  side  to  side  against  the  great 


186  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

rocks,  Penn  Grabb6  had  his  confidence  once  more, 
and  put  a  present  of  dollars  in  his  big,  brown,  hard 
hand.  As  he  accepted  it  he  winked  at  Grabb6  a 
knowing  wink,  though  he  knew  winking  was  reprobat- 
ed by  the  Bible.  He  winked,  however,  because  he 
scented  a  plot  between  Grabbe  and  Lexie,  scenting 
plots  being  the  prominent  quality  of  his  half  suspi- 
cious, half  confiding,  poorly  educated  but  worldly 
wise  mind. 

When  they  went  into  the  house  Grabb^  greeted 
Lexie  and  told  her  no  letters  had  come.  She  suf- 
fered intensely,  but  was  meager  with  her  words, 
taking  scant  notice  of  him  and  his  oblique  conversa- 
tion. Fate  Wolf  saw  with  a  glance  that  she  did  not 
love  Grabb6  and  that  aversion  marked  each  guarded 
gleam  of  her  modest  eye.  Thenceforward  his  suspi- 
cions became  active  and  his  cunning  mind  alive  to 
the  situation.  His  opinion  of  plots  between  them 
was  wiped  out.  He  was  satisfied  Lexie  had  nothing 
to  do  with  any  plots  about  love  or  marriage. 

"Yander  cums  a  nigger  down  my  gold  stair  steps," 
cried  Fate  Wolf,  in  surprise,  as  he  looked  out  of  his 
cabin  door. 

Penn  Grabb6  had  gone  into  the  other  end  of  the 
cabin,  where  Mrs.  Wolf  was  weaving  on  a  Daniel 
Boone  loom,  for  the  purpose  of  pumping  her  touch- 
ing Lexie's  opinion  of  himself. 

"I  haint  heerd  her  speak  'bout  ye  sense  she  cum," 
said  Mrs.  Wolf.  Just  at  that  moment  she  heard  her 
husband's  cry  and  hurried  to  him. 

All  of  them  rushed  into  the  yard  to  see  the  negro 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  187 

descending.  He  was  dressed  worse  than  a  rag-pick- 
er and  his  black  face  was  still  blacker  with  coal  dust. 

Ned  being  in  deep  disguise,  Grabb6  did  not  recog- 
nize him  and  Lexie  was  barely  able  to  do  so.  Prom 
his  manner  she  caught  a  warning  not  to  know  him. 
He  was  such  a  grotesque  sight  that  it  was  all  Fate 
Wolf  could  do  to  keep  the  brindled  dogs  from  eating 
him  up. 

"What  sent  the  Mkes  uv  you  hyur?  They  aint  no 
crows  botherin'  'round  to  be  skeered  off,"  said  Mrs. 
Wolf. 

"Nuffin  much,"  replied  Ned,  "butde  niggers  er  all 
freed  en  aint  got  nuthin'  to  eat  en  I  cum  hyar  to  git 
sunthin'  en  work  fur  Mr.  Wolf  who's  worked  fur  us 
niggers  all  de  time  ez  Mr.  Eph  Soaks  told  to  me 
while  I  wus  scatlin'  aroun'  fur  sunthin'  to  eat  up  yan- 
der  in  de  worl',''  pointing  toward  the  tops  of  the  tow- 
ering walls  of  rock. 

'  'Ye  haint  out'n  the  world  yit,  yit  yer  turrible  nigh 
it,"  said  Mrs.  Wolf,  looking  at  Lexie,  and  crying  with 
the  next  breath  "Scat!"  to  the  house  cats  which  had 
followed  them  out  to  see  the  sight  coming  down  Fate 
Wolf's  "golden  stairs."  "Cum  in  though,"  said  she, 
kindly,  '  'I'll  give  ye  sunthin'  to  eat.  The  Good  Book 
says  feed  the  hongi-y." 

Fate  Wolf,  addressing  Grabb6,  said,  in  comjDli- 
mentary  tones,  "Scatlett  ud  give  old  Nick  a  bite  to 
eat  ef  he  wus  to  cum  hisself,"  and  they  went  on  talk- 
ing of  the  unexpected  visit  while  the  '  'wimmin  folks'* 
and  Ned  moved  into  the  cabin. 

The  middle  of  April  had  come,  but  the  latest  news 


188  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

on  Tippling  Pork  was,  according  to  custom,  dated  in 
February  or  March.  Ned  had  carefully  listened  to 
the  lies  Penn  Grabbe  had  told  Lexie's  aunts  the  last 
time  he  was  in  Louisville,  and  intently  noted  the  de- 
scription of  "the  safe  place"  she  was  in.  He  could 
not  sleep  any  of  nights  after  Grabbe  had  left  for 
thinking  of  where  his  poor  young  mistress  might  be. 

The  day  following  Lee's  surrender  he  left  Lexie's 
aunts  to  find  her  and  tell  her  '  'de  war  wus  over  en 
ole  Jerry  Burr  had  run  off  en  to  cum  along  right 
straight  back  home." 

The  morning  succeeding  the  night  that  Abraham 
Lincoln,  great  among  great  America's  great  men, 
was  assassinated,  Ned  descended  Pate  Wolf's 
'  'golden  stairs"  without  knowing  that  the  friend  of 
his  race,  in  the  noontide  of  his  glory  had  gone  from 
earth,  flushed  with  success,  yet  filling  with  woe  the 
heart  of  nations  and  moistening  with  tears  the  cheek 
of  the  civilized  world. 

This  national  catastrophe,  had  he  then  known  of 
it,  would  not,  however,  have  touched  his  heart  with 
such  sympathy  as  the  sight  of  'poor  Miss  Lexie," 
whose  troubles  had  caused  Ned  so  many  tears  and 
heartaches.  He  was  very  humble,  but  did  not,  as 
Uriah  Heap,  show  his  humiliation  by  iteration.  He 
took  his  place  noiselessly  on  a  stool  in  the  dim  light 
of  the  back  part  of  the  cabin,  while  Mrs.  Wolf  began 
to  get  an  early  supper. 

Penn  Grabbe  tried  to  speak  to  Lexie  alone,  but  she 
stuck  close  to  Mrs.  Wolf,  and  Pate  also  kept  himself 
not  tar  away 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  189 

Finally  Grabbe  gave  up,  and,  making  excuses  of 
which  he  knew  no  end,  started  up  the  cliff,  plotting 
how  he  would  conquer  her  aversion  and  bend  her 
mind  to  his  purpose.  From  the  top  of  the  cliff  he 
stepped  into  the  approaching  night  beyond,  and 
wrapped  himself  in  its  congenial  elements,  while  his 
thoughts  bore  a  likeness  to  the  darkest  hour  of  the 
darkest  night. 

When  Fate  Wolf  went  out  to  feed  Fiat-Foot  and  the 
cow,  Ned  found  an  opportunity  to  say  a  few  words  to 
Lexie  during  the  ins  and  outs  made  by  Mrs.  Wolf 
getting  the  evening  meal.  Lexie  began  to  doubt 
Grabb^'s  motives.  She  wondered  if  his  design  were 
to  break  her  spirit  to  his  spurious  affections.  Her 
doubts  prepared  her  for  any  risks  necessary  to  escape 
his  power,  which  was  secretly  coiling  around  her  a 
destiny  far  worse  than  the  Dry  Tortugas ! 

Her  spirit  moaned  and  all  seemed  black  about  her; 
but  courage  born  of  despair  came  to  her  heart,  and 
it  was  filled  with  hope  and  high  purpose.  She  rea- 
soned that  if  he  should  turn  out  to  have  been  true, 
she  could  be  properly  grateful  and  in  some  way  re- 
ward him.  Just  after  Grabbe  had  left,  Eph  Soaks 
dropped  down  with  a  message  to  Fate  Wolf  to  meet 
the  boys  at  Grabbe's  house  to  consider  the  news  of 
Lee's  surrender.  Fate  Wolf  jumped  up,  went  wild 
over  the  information  and  whooped  and  howled  like  a 
wolf,  and  "hurrayed"  for  the  Union  until  the  silent 
stars,  that  twinkled  high  in  the  blue  strip  above  his 
cabin,  heard  him. 

"Will  I  go?"  cried  he,  repeating  Eph  Soaks'  query. 


190  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

"You  bet  I'll  go  en  not  cum  back  ontel  I  know  it's 

so,"  and  he  wildly  sang: 

I* 
'O  say  kin  ye  see  by  the  daybreak's  early  light 
The  flaguv  our  countree  gleamia'  in  or  out  uv  sight, 
En  the  star-spangel  banner  like  a  trumpet  shall  wave 
Over  Tipplin'  Fork  Crick  en  the  home  uv  the  brave." 

"O  hush  up!  Fate,  ye  air  most  wild,"  cried  Mrs. 
Wolf;  "go  'long  en  fetch  us  back  the  news." 

He  mounted  Flat-Foot,  and,  threading  his  way 
down  Tippling  Fork  until  he  emerged  from  the  jaws 
of  the  Rocky  Gorge,  rode  as  a  husband  rides  for  the 
doctor  in  the  mountains  when  his  wife  falls  suddenly 
ill,  reaching  Penn  Grabb^'s  just  as  "the  dawn's  early 
light"  hailed  his  swift  coming. 

Lexie  lured  the  brindled  dogs,  that  had  become 
fond  of  her,  to  the  rock  house  to  milk  the  cow  which 
Mrs.  Wolf  had  forgotten  in  the  flurries  of  the  evening, 
and  fastened  them  up.  As  she  returned  to  the  cabin, 
the  soft  evening  air  was  still;  not  a  breeze  stirred 
the  sounds  of  the  mighty  gorge;  the  stainless  stars 
trembled  overhead,  and  silence,  profound,  followed 
the  echoes  of  her  voice  as  it  rose  in  song  and  died 
away,  pitying  and  pitiful,  for  the  tones  were  from 
heart-strings  held  tense  till  almost  broken.  Ned 
heard  the  old  familiar  voice;  it  startled  him;  its  buoy- 
ancy and  gladness,  like  the  soul  of  music  from  Tara's 
halls,  had  fled,  and  tears  seemed  to  tremble  in  every 
note.  She  was  singing  "Home,  .Sweet  Home,"  that 
anthem  of  heaven  so  dear  to  the  poor  man's  hearth- 
stone and  to  the  heart  of  the  homeless! 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  191 

He  arose  for  the  first  time  since  he  took  his  seat  in 
the  shadows  of  the  corner  of  the  cabin,  where,  unno- 
ticed, he  had  remained  while  Fate  Wolf  shouted  and 
sang  for  joy,  and  slowly  and  shyly  asked,  "Caint  I 
help  de  young  mistus?" 

"Yes,"  consented  Mrs.  Wolf,  "go  'long  and  help 
her  to  tote  the  milk  bucket,  fur  I  know  it's  full,  fur 
the  cow  haint  bean  milked  this  day  en  she  gives  lots." 
Then  she  abstractedly  continued,  '  'I'm  tired  uv  'em, 
fur  I  don't  want  thim  ole  subter-shoots  en  Penn 
Grabbe  cummin'  'bout  hyur  no  more  en  I  hope  the 
blimed  ole  war  is  at  a  eend." 

Ned  flew  through  the  cabin  door  as  black  as  Poe's 
raven  to  meet  and  carry  Lexie's  burden  and  tell  her 
everything. 

Said  she,  "Ned,  we'll  leave  just  after  midnight. 
Mrs.  Wolf  is  tired.  She  has  worked  all  day,  first 
with  me  in  the  garden  all  the  morning " 

"Did  she  make  you  wuck,  Miss  Lexie?"  interjected 
Ned. 

'  'No,  Ned,  she  is  too  good  and  kind  to  do  that.  I 
dropped  and  covered  helianthus  seeds  and  hollyhock 
in  the  flower-bed  while  she  planted  potatoes,  corn  and 
beans  in  the  rest  of  the  garden.  The  poor  old  thing 
has  never  allowed  me  to  do  any  work  when  she  could 
help  it.  She  calls  me  'My  big  gyrl  baby, '  and  says  I 
must  live  with  her  always;  that  she  is  so  lonesome 
for  ' wimmin  company, '  as  she  calls  it,  when  'her  man' 
is  gone.     I  do  hate  to  leave  her!" 

'  'But,  Miss  Lexie,  you  must  go  home,  fur  dat  ole 
Penn  Grabbus  will  kill  ye'ef  he  can't  git  ye  no  udder 


192  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

way,  en  awa'  up  hyar  in  dis  wolfish  place  he  could  do 
it  easy  en  dat  ole  Wolf  wouldn't  tell  on  'imnudder." 

Lexie  had  no  idea  of  not  going;  the  human  heart 
was  but  speaking  and  sympathy  only  finding  relief 
in  the  expressions  she  had  just  uttered. 

"Ned,  we  go  to-night,"  she  whispered,  and  they 
stepped  in  the  cabin  door,  and  Ned  set  the  bucket  of 
milk  on  the  puncheon  table  and  softly  glided  into  the 
back  part  of  the  cabin. 

At  midnight  they  emerged  from  the  shadow  of  the 
cabin  together;  the  stars  smiled;  the  brindled  dogs 
howled  in  the  rock  house ;  Scatlett  Wolf,  in  a  dream- 
less sleep,  lay  still  upon  the  hard  shuck  bed,  and  the 
God  of  the  weak  winged  the  feet  of  the  deserters; 
and,  as  the  "golden  stairs"  of  Fate  Wolf  were  mount- 
ed, the  silver  star  of  freedom  stood  to  the  westward 
over  Lexie's  home,  and,  like  the  wise  men  of  the 
East,  she  and  Ned  journeyed  thither. 

By  daylight  they  had  rambled  far  through  bush 
and  brake,  over  rock  and  ravine,  and  her  thin  shoes 
were  becoming  so  torn  that  the  tender  flesh  of  her 
white  feet  struck  against  flint  and  pricks  until  the 
precious  blood  dyed  her  stockings  and  marked  their 
trail. 

On  the  high  plateaus  of  Tippling  Fork  the  streams 
were  then  famishing  for  water.  Lexie,  faint  and 
thirsting  for  drink,  lagged  behind.  Finally  she 
could  go  no  longer  and  sat  down  on  a  rock  to  rest. 
Ned  was  crouching  on  the  ground  at  a  respectful  dis- 
tance, awaiting  her  movement.  At  length  he  urged 
her  to  go  again,  saying,  '  'De'U  cotch  us  ef  we  doan 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  193 

hurry."  She  arose,  staggered  and  limped  along  like 
a  poor  wounded  hare. 

He  said,  "Miss  Lexie,  lemme  help  you." 

He  took  her  by  the  arm  and  stoutly  helped  her 
over  logs  and  rough  places,  parted  the  bushes  for 
her,  and  by  noon  they  had  reached  the  ferry  at  the 
mouth  of  Whirling  Log  creek,  where  Robert  Hope 
and  Sunny  Withers,  crossing  in  1862,  met  "Colonel" 
Patter  and  Fate  Wolf.  The  news  of  Lee's  surrender 
was  spreading  like  wildfire,  and  "Colonel"  Patter 
had  gone  to  the  ferry  and  was  talking  of  it  with  un- 
armed soldiers.  Several  citizens  crossed  while  Lexie 
and  Ned  rested  on  the  shore.  Everybody  seemed 
friendly  and  the  sun  shone  brighter  in  old  Kentucky's 
homes  than  it  had  for  four  years. 

Lexie's  bruised  feet  had  gotten  stiff  and  sore  and 
when  she  arose  to  walk  to  the  ferry  "Colonel"  Pat- 
ter observed  her  pitiable  condition  and  at  once  ap- 
proached her  and  said,  "My  dear  madam.  I  am  pained 
to  see  you  in  this  forlorn  situation.  May  I  have  the 
honor  of  assisting  you  into  the  boat?" 

She  assented  and  in  a  few  minutes  the  boat  was 
shoved  across  the  deep,  calm  stretch  of  water 
which  made  that  part  of  Blue  Lick  river  not  forda- 
ble  at  any  time  during  the  year. 

When  on  the  other  side,  "Colonel"  Patter  said, 
"Madam,  may  I  ask  which  way  you  are  bound  for?" 

Lexie  looked  at  Ned  in  bewilderment,  for  she  was 
completely  lost  and  stupefied  by  fatigue. 

He  answered,  '  'Lexyunton  to  git  de  train. " 

"So  am  I,"   said    "Colonel"  Patter,    "to  get   the 

13 


194  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

news.  Now,"  continued  he,  "lady,  if  you  will  ac- 
cept my  horse  and  can  stick  on  my  saddle,  you  may 
ride — Long-Leaper  is  perfectly  gentle — and  your 
servant  and  I  will  walk  along  ahead  of  you." 

"O,  thank  you,  sir;  thank  you,  sir.  You  are  too 
kind,  I  believe  I  could  not  go  further,  my  feet  are 
so  sore!" 

At  once  "Colonel"  Patter  threw  the  right  stirrup 
leather  over  the  seat  of  his  saddle  to  the  left  and 
turned  it  into  a  half  side  saddle,  making  the  best  job 
possible  out  of  the  material  at  hand.  Long-Leaper 
was  led  to  a  stump  and  Lexie,  with  "Colonel"  Pat- 
ter's assistance,  mounted,  while  Ned  held  the  horse, 
and  the  journey  began. 

"Colonel"  Patter  stopped  everybody  they  met  and 
asked  the  news.  Soon  the  rumor  of  Lee's  surrender 
was  an  established  fact,  but  "Colonel"  Patter  refused 
to  turn  back,  though  she  suggested  it,  saying, 
"Madam,  I  may  have  done  many  imperfect  things, 
but  never  yet  deserted,  a  woman  in  distress.  My 
faithful  horse  is  at  your  service  until  you  are  safe 
and  on  the  train  for  home. " 

She  and  Ned  had  given  him  an  impressionist's  out- 
line of  their  troubles,  but  a  pretty  clear  idea  of  the 
sickness  of  one  of  Lexie's  aunts  and  the  growing 
helplessness  of  the  other,  and  how  she  and  Ned  were 
so  badly  needed  at  home,  and  how  they  ought  to  be 
there. 

"Colonel"  Patter,  by  adroit  questioning,  discov- 
ered that  Lexie  had  no  money  and  Ned  only  sixty 
>cents  of  shinplasters  left.     So  he  determined  to  put 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  195 

them  through  on  high  points.  Like  most  bloviators, 
as  bloviating  results  somewhat  from  idealism,  "Colo- 
nel" Patter  had  a  tender  and  romantic  spot  in  his 
heart,  but  for  courage,  moral  and  physical,  he  was 
not  greatly  noted  under  exacting  demands  or  in  ex- 
treme peril. 

"At  Lexington  at  last!"  said  he,  after  three  days' 
toilsome  walking  for  the  sake  of  woman  and  South- 
ern courtesy.     "Now  for  the  train." 

Tickets  were  bought  by  him,  Lexie's  hand  was 
shaken,  and,  as  "Good-bye,  God  bless  you, "  fell  from 
his  lips,  the  engine  whistled — they  were  off. 

The  next  day  he  met  Fate  Wolf  and  Penn  Grabbe 
at  the  old  Phoenix  Hotel  in  Lexington,  a  hotel  where 
Santa  Anna  had  slept,  where  Henry  Clay,  Dick  Men- 
ifee, Roger  Hanson,  Leslie  Combs,  John  C.  Breckin- 
ridge and  Bob  Woolly  had  talked  and  lounged,  and 
felt  bigger  for  his  gallantry  to  Lexie  and  Ned  with- 
out asking  their  names,  "like  a  Yankee  would  have 
done,"  than  any  of  these  celebrities  who  used  to  fre- 
quent the  exclusive  little  room  and  fireplace  behind 
the  clerk  as  he  stood  to  face  bill-paying  guests,  or 
those  non  est  inventus. 

That  little  room  has  heard  bright  anecdote  and  pun- 
gent wit,  dashed  with  choice  bits  of  public  gossip, 
far  into  the  night  many  a  time,  and,  had  it  not  been 
burned,  its  walls  would  be  odorous  with  mint  juleps 
as  these  lines  are  penned. 

But  that  landmark  is  gone,  with  its  famous  guests, 
their  big  discussions,  sage  remarks  and  witty  say- 
ings; all  gone,  where  to  be  is  equality;  but  Lexing- 


396  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

ton  is  no  worse  for  their  having  been  and  gone;  there 
was  the  nucleus  of  her  public  thought  and  there  is 
the  revered  spot  of  her  best  traditions,  and  there  may 
yet  be  found  her  most  loving  recollections.  Would 
that  the  old  Phoenix  and  its  old  guests  could  rise 
from  their  ashes !  and  may  the  bright  mind  of  the  last 
of  its  famed  patrons  scintillate  to  the  end. 

The  three  patriots  of  this  plain,  truthful  story 
went  to  the  bar-room  in  the  Phoenix  and  drank,  first 
to  peace,  and  second  to  pensions,  leaving  off  further 
plagiarism  from  Light  Horse  Harry's  oration  over 
Washington,  who  refused  a  pension  for  more  services 
than  were  ever  done  by  any  of  our  million  footed 
pensioners! — or  all  of  them  possibly. 


XXV. 

NEXT  MORNING  after  their  return,  Lexie  was 
up  with  the  sun.  Having  put  the  little  cottage 
in  order,  she  sat  down  by  her  Aunt  Bina  to  learn  of 
the  troubles  which  had  flown  in  like  a  sea  upon  them 
during  her  absence.  Poor  Aunt  Julia  had  succumbed 
under  the  ravages  of  her  old  assailant,  consumption, 
and  an  acute  attack  of  pneumonia  resulting  from  in- 
sufficient fuel  and  cold  rooms. 

Since  Lexie's  expulsion  from  the  State,  as  given 
out  by  Penn  Grabb^,  society  had  withdrawn,  as  it  so 
often  withdraws  from  its  old  friends  fallen  into  finan- 
cial distress.  The  sale  of  their  household  goods  for 
rent  and  the  surrender  of  the  once  popular  boarding- 
house  on  Brook  street  were  unattended — not  even 
noted — by  any  of  that  host  of  visitors  who  formerly 
coined  meaningless  compliments  to  their  enjoyable 
entertainments. 

They  had  lived  in  the  obscure  little  cottage,  off  in 
the  lonesome  suburbs  of  the  city,  but  three  days  when 
Aunt  Julia's  faithful  spirit  took  its  flight  from  the 
falling — fallen  temple  of  flesh.  Buried  in  the  potter's 
field,  close  to  the  grave  of  the  writer's  namesake, 
who  fell  under  the  heavy  burden  of  poverty,  Aunt 
Julia  sleeps  peacefully,    though  no   flowers   bloom 

197 


198  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

above  her  dust  or  vain  shaft  pretentiously  points  to 
deeds  of  transient  fame.  The  house  dog  was  dead; 
the  old  purring  maltese  cat  had  been  lost;  the  silver 
plate  of  ancestors  was  sold;  not  an  heirloom  remained 
save  the  portrait  of  Lexie's  father  and  his  fine  old 
violin, 

"The  instrument  on  which  he  played 
That  was  in  Cremona's  workshop  made, 

By  a  great  master  of  the  past, 
Ere  yet  was  lost  the  art  divine; 
Fashioned  of  maple  and  of  pine, 
That  in  Tyrolean  forests  vast 
Had  rocked  and  wrestled  with  the  blast. 

"Exquisite  was  it  in  design, 
A  marvel  of  the  lutist's  art, 
Perfect  in  each  minutest  part; 
*  And  in  its  hollow  chamber  thus 

The  maker  from  whose  hand  it  came 
Had  written  his  unrivalled  name, 
'Antonius  Stradivarius.'  " 

Lexie  listened  with  moist  eyes  and  a  sobbing  heart 
to  the  history  of  her  unfortunate  but  once  proud  and 
opulent  family,  now  reduced  to  two  descendants — 
herself  and  Aunt  Bina.  Their  narrow  means  had 
been  lessening  ever  since  Robert  Hope's  escape,  for 
the  eyes  of  spies  had  then  fallen  on  them  and  necessi- 
tous circumstances  were  thence  made,  by  gossip  and 
oppression,  to  enclose  them  in,  so  as  to  cut  off  sup- 
plies and  assistance  to  rebels.  Lexie's  arrest  had 
capped  the  climax  of  their  misfortunes,  and  things 
had  grown  from  bad  to  worse  ever  since,  until  now 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  199 

the  wolf  was  at  the  door.  It  was  a  bitter  day  in 
Lexie's  life,  but  necessity  is  the  mother  of  invention 
and  sometimes  the  finder  of  hidden  talents  sublime, 
else  why  is  there  a  Mary  Anderson,  or  Kentucky's 
greatest  mother  and  wife,  who  loveth  all  things  and 
claimeth  not  her  own;  or  why  was  there  a  Menifee  or 
a  Lincoln. 

There  was  no  food  in  the  cottage,  no  fuel,  not  a  ray 
of  cheerfulness,  and  none  with  an  occupation  or 
with  knowledge  of  an  occupation's  duties.  Ned  was 
ignorant,  and  possessed  only  one  thing  of  a  high  or- 
der— a  negro's  heart  in  the  right  place.  Lexie,  for- 
lorn, arose  from  Aunt  Bina's  sad  story,  which  had 
lasted  till  the  sun  hung  high  in  the  heavens,  and 
staggered  toward  the  door. 

She  turned  her  eyes  about  over  the  cottage  as  if 
looking  at  its  bare  walls,  scanty  furniture  and  stinted 
appearance  to  gather  strength  to  improve  them;  her 
father's  portrait  caught  and  held  her  eyes  for  a  long 
time,  for  it  seemed  to  have  music  in  its  sweeping 
graces;  withdrawing  her  gaze,  she  looked  at  the 
time-worn  violin  and  drawing  the  bow,  as  she  had 
done  in  her  girlish  days,  the  sounds  startled  her. 
The  chords  of  her  being  were  in  tune  and  her  distress- 
bought  condition  was  in  harmony  with  the  old  vio- 
lin's heart-consoling  music.  Again  she  stroked  its 
sweet  strings  and  new  strains  came  from  old  pieces 
she  had  not  played  since  Lema  left  them.  Her  soul 
was  stirred  with  a  new  thought  which  had  lain  dor- 
mant in  her  nature  until  accumulated  distresses,  feel- 
ings whose  depths  the  well- conditioned  never  know, 


200  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

had  brought  it  forth  for  relief  to  her  weary-laden, 
heart.  Thus  the  chiefest  blessings  reach  mankind 
through  the  poor  in  spirit,  they  that  mourn,  the  hun- 
gry, the  meek,  the  merciful,  the  pure  in  heart  and 
the  persecuted. 

"I'll  be  a  violinist  and  fill  the  world,  if  I  can,  with 
music,"  exclaimed  Lexie  as  Ned  entered  the  door 
with  a  loaf  of  bread,  a  half  dozen  of  eggs  and  a  pound 
of  sugar  he  had  bought  with  the  remains  of  the  sixty 
cents  of  which  he  told  "Colonel"  Patter  at  Lexington. 

The  sugar  was  melted,  the  bread  toasted  and  the 
eggs  boiled.     On  this  they  broke  their  fast. 

Lexie  was  up  in  arms  once  more  for  the  battle  of 
life.  Soon  she  was  traveling  the  streets  in  search  of 
work,  but  every  application  was  coldly  received  or 
rudely  repulsed.  All  that  afternoon  she  walked  and 
begged  "her  brothers  of  the  earth  to  give  her  leave 
to  toil."  Thus  she  struggled  until  nightfall.  The 
soot  and  smoke,  mingling  with  its  approaching 
shadows,  drove  her  from  her  search,  and  she  trudged 
through  the  gathering  gloom  back  to  their  lonely 
cottage. 

Ned  had  gone  forth,  too,  to  take  a  hand,  with  Miss 
Lexie,  in  the  uneven  strife  for  bread  and  existence, 
and,  long  before  she  got  back,  returned  with  the 
news  that  he  had  taken  in  washing. 

A  scanty  meal  sent  them  to  rest  hungry.  Lexie 
affected  great  cheerfulness,  and  talked  hopefully  the 
following  morning  of  what  the  day  would  bring  forth; 
but  her  heart  sank  heavily  and  beat  slowly,  and 
her  faith  in  humanity  began  to  fail  as  the  last  coffee 
grounds  were  boiled  over  for  poor  Aunt  Bina. 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  201 

"With  leaden  feet  she  started  toward  the  heart  of  the 
great  city.  While  plodding  along  her  weary  way, 
she  thought  of  a  ring  which  Lema  Sayr  had  given 
her,  and  the  impulse  to  sell  or  pledge  it  for  bread- 
money  was  almost  overpowering,  yet  she  clung  to  it 
for  memory's  sake  as  a  miser  clings  to  gold.  As  she 
passed  a  jeweler's  shop  her  anguish  of  mind  was  quite 
insupportable.  Slie  turned  back  and  went  in,  asked 
the  trinket  merchant  if  he  dealt  in  pawned  articles, 
and,  being  answered  affirmatively,  she  offered  her 
sacred  ring  in  pledge  for  a  loan.  "Tis  ring  is  quite 
pritty,"  said  the  merchant.  "I  kint  lent  you  tree 
toUars  unt  dat." 

Lexie  handed  it  to  him.  Her  heart  throbbed  with 
misery  and  her  soul  seemed  dead  as  she  left  the  ring 
in  pledge  and  sought  the  hard  pavement.  No  work 
here,  no  work  there,  no  work  anywhere.  Night,  and 
no  work  met  again;  but  by  judicious  care,  with  a 
small  part  of  the  priceless  three  dollars  she  bought  a 
little  food  for  Aunt  Bina  and  some  for  poor  Ned's 
hungry  mouth.  Returning  to  the  cottage  she  found 
Ned  washing  away  upon  a  big  pile  of  clothes  of  an 
evidently  well-to-do  family  When  Lexie  explained 
the  events  of  the  day  Ned  laughed,  like  scared  or  ex- 
cited people  sometimes  laugh,  tremblingly,  catching 
his  breath  shortly  at  the  end,  and  half  shouted,  "We 
ain't  a  gwine  a  fail.  Miss  Lexie." 

Seeing  how  his  tones  trembled  her  spirits  revived, 
and  she  was  tempted  to  laugh  as  she  said,  "No,  no, 
Ned;  we  will  work  out  our  salvation  with  fear  and 
tremblino^. " 


202  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

Ned  resumed  his  washing  and  Lexie  busied  herself 
with  the  cooking,  and  Aunt  Bina  walked  about  the 
cottage  in  a  sprightly  manner,  saying  that  she  felt 
better  than  she  had  since  sister  Julia  died.  She  set 
the  table,  spreading  it  over  with  a  white  cloth  and 
covering  it  with  dishes  saved  from  the  wreck  of  the 
boarding-house  venture.  She  and  Lexie  sat  down, 
with  Ned  in  the  background  as  waiter,  and  took  the 
first  regular  meal  since  their  return.  After  it  was 
over  Ned  resumed  his  washing,  and  by  midnight  had 
the  clothes  ready  to  hang  out  to  dry.  He  dropped  on 
a  pallet  laid  in  one  corner  of  the  little  kitchen  and 
fell  into  an  honest  sleep  before  one  could  count  a 
hundred  and  slept  till  the  sun  rose  to  dry  the  clothes. 
Lexie,  with  the  aid  of  Aunt  Bina,  ironed  them  beau- 
tifully, and  when  Ned  delivered  them  the  last  of  the 
week  his  patrons  were  delighted  with  his  skill  and 
he  returned  with  three  dollars  and  fifty  cents,  which, 
like  Csesar's  ransoms,  did  the  general  coffers  of  the 
cottage  fill. 

"Now,  Miss  Lexie,  you  go  right  'long  back  en 
make  dat  ole  man  give  up  yo  ring,"  said  Ned. 

Lexie  laughed.  The  stitching  began  in  the  cottage 
before  another  washing  was  done,  and  a  little  cheer- 
fulness sat  at  their  board  once  more,  sweetening  their 
poverty  with  its  joy-breeding  and  health  giving  pow- 
er. About  the  third  hour  of  night,  while  sewing  by 
one  of  Ned's  home-made  lamps,  Lexie  asked,  "Why 
did  not  some  of  your  old  friends  come  to  see  you. 
Aunt  Bina,  when  the  officer  turned  you  and  Aunt 
Julia  out  of  the  boarding-house?" 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  203 

The  aunt  replied,  "Ah,  child!  that  is  hard  to  an- 
swer. Those  of  the  upper  circles  of  society  never 
like  to  waste  their  capacities  for  pleasure  on  the  sor- 
did- hardships  of  the  poor.  Many  of  our  old  friends 
were  away  from  the  city,  besides,  our  pride  would  not 
permit  us  to  ask  for  help,  for  in  our  condition  that 
would  have  been  begging  for  charity.  We  thought 
good  fortune  might  yet  turn  our  way  by  opening  to 
us  some  of  your  father's  once  extensive  property, 
and  preferred  to  bear  our  ills  silently  and  hope  for 
something,  after  all,  from  that  long  promising  source, 
though  it  has  so  often  disappointed  us." 

Lexie  listened  intently  to  her  aunt,  drinking  in 
every  word  and  enlarging  the  noble  principle  of  self- 
dependence  in  the  face  of  poverty. 

"Well,  Aunt  Bina,  you  did  right,  and  I  will  follow 
your  example."  Pausing  a  moment,  she  added,  "I 
will  never  ask  for  charity  as  long  as  I  can  lift  a  hand 
or  move  a  foot.  I  was  tempted  last  week  to  hunt  up 
some  of  our  friends  and  ask  their  aid,  but  the  fear 
they  would  think  me  begging  drove  the  tempter 
away,  and  now  I  feel  hopeful  because  I  feel  that  self- 
respect  and  that  independence  of  mind  and  spirit  no 
beggar  can  ever  feel.  One  had  better  die  than  beg. 
Aunt  Bina!" 

"Are  you  willing,  Lexie,  to  take  your  place  in  this 
kind  of  life,  with  its  exactions  and  sacrifices,  and 
wear  out  your  beautiful  young  days,  and  when  I  am 
decrepit  support  me  out  of  your  slender  means?" 
asked  the  aunt. 

Lexie's  eyes  filled  with  tears,  and  her  face  that  had 


204  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

been  aging  under  cruel  persecutions  and  grinding 
poverty  flushed  with  courage  and  fortitude  as  she 
stretched  her  graceful  arms  toward  heaven  and  re- 
peated the  beautiful  constancy  of  Ruth.  Lexie  rose, 
for  they  could  say  no  more  then,  and,  taking  her 
father's  noble  old  violin  from  its  case,  played 
"Home,  Sweet  Home,"  with  a  pure  pathos  that 
sounded  like  the  last  wails  of  the  imprisoned  soul  of 
this  most  mysterious  of  all  instruments.  She  softly 
laid  the  violin  in  its  case,  and  "Be  it  ever  so  humble, 
there  is  no  place  like  home,"  fell  tremblingly  from 
her  lips  as  she  knelt  to  say  her  prayers.  That  night 
Lexie's  pillow  was  softer,  and  her  dreams  came  troop- 
ing in  like  angels  with  noiseless  wing,  bearing  her 
away  from  care,  trials  and  woe.  She  dreamed  that 
failure  was  better  than  success,  if  failure  bettered  the 
heart.  And  the  life  of  the  good  old  violin  rose  in  her 
sweet  visions.  There  stood  her  grandfather  and  his 
friends  who  had  played  upon  it;  there  the  Virginia 
g'irls  whom  he  had  thrilled  with  its  splendid  tones, 
whirled  along  the  ranks  of  the  reel  or  danced  the 
quick  cotillion  or  the  stately  minuet;  there  was  her 
mother  listening  alone  to  her  father  as  he  beguiled 
the  hours  with  its  powerful  depths,  its  sweet,  its  del- 
icate tones;  all  these  memories  rose  in  her  sleep, 
until  her  own  exalted  emotions,  which  the  sight  and 
touch  of  the  old  violin  had  kindled  in  this  darkest 
hour  of  distress,  chased  her  dreams  away  and  she 
awoke  to  the  realities  of  poverty,  which  has  few  suc- 
cesses, many  failures  and  myriads  of  trouble.  Only 
one  in  a  hundred  rises  above  its  thrall;  more  are  not 
failures,  but  all  may  be  happy  under  its  exactions. 


XXVI. 

WHILE  looking  at  Boston,  its  old  houses,  its 
monuments,  its  places  famous  in  song,  in 
fable  and  in  history,  Robert  Hope  made  incidental  in- 
quiry about  ancient  Massachusetts  families.  Then 
he  went  up  to  Headway,  and,  upon  talking  with  an 
inn-keeper,  learned  that  the  Sayrs  descended  from 
Plymouth  Rock  people,  and  were  living  in  the  old 
colonial  homestead  situate  near  the  road  Paul  Revere 
took  to  Lexington  to  warn  his  countrymen  of  the  ap- 
proach of  the  British. 

The  next  day,  as  he  entered  the  walk  lined  with 
maple  trees,  he  observed  on  the  right  of  the  Sayr 
homestead,  which  the  inn-keeper  had  pointed  out,  a 
droopy  little  wing  hanging  to  the  main  building  as  if 
held  by  unseen  hands.  It  was  only  one  story.  The 
ancient  shingled  roof  seemed  to  be  older  than  the 
forest  trees  of  the  yard.  Odd  red  lines  glowed  on 
each  glass  of  its  single  window  which  opened  toward 
Massachusetts  Bay.  A  few  steps  brought  him  near 
enough  to  read  the  word  "Think"  in  its  brilliant  let- 
ters, in  its  Catholic  Archbishop's  attire.  Behind  the 
lower  panes  of  glass  he  saw  a  calm  face  whose  com- 
posure disconcerted  him.  The  features  were  blurred 
by  shadows  of  the  walls,  and  before  he  could  concen- 

205 


206  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

trate  another  look  the  face  had  withdrawn,  but  he  had 
recognized  the  open  countenance.  He  became  strong- 
ly excited  and  with  tremulous  delight  felt  the  real 
presence  of  Lema  Sayr.  The  vision  which  he  had 
borne  in  his  bosom  since  they  parted  condensed  at 
once  into  flesh  and  blood.  Quicker  circulation  flushed 
his  face;  his  steps  became  unsteady,  and  when  he 
reached  the  old  hall-door  his  self-possession  almost 
forsook  him.  But  his  steel  nerves  stood  the  draft 
upon  them  well,  and,  when  the  door  opened  invitingly 
wide,  he  was  himself  again.  He  presented  his  card, 
and  the  young  lady  who  received  him  read  it  with 
trepidation,  shrewdly  thinking  that  this  gentleman 
might  be  one  of  her  sister's  war  acquaintances.  In- 
viting him  to  be  seated,  she  retired  with  affected 
composure. 

Lema  had  seen  him  approach  and  recognized  the 
manly  step  and  form  of  the  Kentuckian,  and  was 
therefore  prepared  for  the  meeting.  She  went  into 
the  parlor,  where  he  sat  beneath  the  portraits  of  her 
ancestors,  and  greeted  him  with  modest  reserve,  but 
with  cordiality.  There  was  no  rush  or  parade  or 
affected  laugh  which  mar  the  manners  of  some,  or 
point  to  slaves  of  a  miserable  custom  that  reduces 
many  a  superior  woman  to  a  beggar  of  courtesies  and 
fills  many  a  man  with  cynicism  or  the  mercenary 
motives  of  post  obit  hopes. 

The  look  which  had  lingered  a  moment  at  their 
parting,  the  brief  grasp  of  the  hand,  with  its  elusive 
power,  its  mesmeric  force,  marked  their  meeting. 
Pathetic  emotions  obstructed  their  speech  and  coined 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  207 

into  gold  the  silence  that  followed.  How  wonderful 
a  thing  is  sincerity,  or  silence,  coupled  with  tact  and 
modesty. 

An  age  seemed  to  have  come  and  gone  since  their 
separation  at  Shiloh;  enough  blood  had  been  spilled 
to  float  a  navy;  enough  men  had  been  slain  to  have 
planted  the  American  flag  in  Hyde  Park,  and  enough 
property  wasted  to  pay  for  every  American  slave  at 
auction  block  prices.  Yet  in  a  month  after  the  last 
hostile  gun  had  been  fired  (and  it  would  be  interest- 
ing to  know  what  soldier  fired  it),  peace,  love  and 
prosperity  held  out  welcoming  hands,  garlanded  with 
May-day  flow^ers,  to  all  the  States  then  about  to  be 
restored  to  the  Union,  while  secession  and  slavery, 
unregretted,  lay  dead  upon  the  altar  of  blood. 

Bitterness  at  once  died  out  of  a  majority  of  Ameri- 
can hearts,  dead  ashes  of  the  past  were  scattered  to 
the  winds,  and  the  statesman,  Charles  Sumner,  ex- 
ampling  after  the  philosophy  of  the  ancients,  at 
length  moved  the  Senate  to  erase  from  the  flag  of 
our  reunited  country  the  names  of  battles  which 
should  remind  us  no  longer  of  the  civil  war.  But  the 
passionate  opposed  him,  the  politician  roared,  and 
the  mercenary  pension  grabber  wrangled  like  Shy- 
lock  w^hile  demanding  his  pound  of  flesh  from  the 
bleeding  breast  of  the  Republic. 

In  the  light  of  these  events,  past  and  to  come,  Lema 
Sayr  and  Robert  Hope  sat  face  to  face  with  wounded 
hearts,  ready  for  the  binding.  War's  chances  and 
sufferings  had  inflicted  these  wounds;  birth  had  sev- 
ered their  peoples;  climate  and  politics   had  made 


208  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

them  Northern  and  Southern.  Could  such  hearts, 
beat  as  one?  Could  love  create  of  such  elements  a 
marriage  union?  Each  of  them  looked  inward  while 
silently  gazing  toward  the  sea,  speaking  now  and 
then  a  few  words  of  health  and  the  weather,  that 
dernier  resort  of  conservative  conversationalists.  At 
last  the  language  of  their  hearts  burst  its  chains,  and 
pleasant  reminiscences  soon  made  them  cheerful. 
After  an  hour's  talk  the  field  of  their  adventures  was 
open,  and  Mrs.  Sayr  and  the  sister  were  called  in. 
He  was  formally  presented.  No  day  in  his  life  had 
been  so  full  of  mystery  and  music.  Propriety  marked 
every  word  of  this  New  England  family,  and  the  ex- 
quisite hospitality  of  women,  which  makes  one  prefer 
to  sit  at  the  table  of  a  poor  widow  than  at  the  feast  of 
a  rich  man,  appealed  to  the  spiritual,  and,  like  one 
enchanted,  he  floated  with  the  golden  hours,  promis- 
ing to  return  on  the  morrow. 

The  next  day  was  spent  roaming  through  the  trees 
of  the  yard  and  jaunting  toward  Lexington  and  Con- 
cord. The  histories  of  those  revolutionary  towns 
were  at  the  ends  of  Lema's  fingers,  for  she  had 
studied  them  quite  as  well  as  Emerson,  whose  His- 
torical Discourse  in  1835  told  of  them  so  scholarly, 
yet  so  quaintly.  As  they  returned  from  the  main 
road  into  the  old  gateway  that  led  up  to  the  house, 
she  was  all  aglow  with  the  excitement  of  the  walk, 
her  blood  freely  bounding  through  every  vein  and 
artery.  Her  mind  was  elastic  as  her  step  and  her 
laugh,  which  always  gently  trembled  as  if  her  spirit 
were   timorous,    rippled    in    low  raptures   from  her 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  209 

throat.  She  was  buoyant,  and  her  humor,  which 
made  her  tolerant,  genial  and  bright,  slowly  insinu- 
ated itself  into  every  tone  and  look.  Finally  she  said, 
'  'I  would  like  to  know  if  you  yet  wish  to  wring  the 
eagle's  neck." 

"No,"  said  he,  "but  I  should  like  to  pluck  one  of 
his  fairest  feathers." 

This  scared  away  her  laugh  and  put  a  redder  rose 
upon  her  cheek;  and  she  flew  from  the  advantage 
given  him  like  the  lapwing  in  alarm  from  its  nest, 
talking  all  the  while  to  the  best  of  her  disconcerted 
skill  about  the  battles  of  Lexington  and  Concord. 
He  saw,  better  than  a  Parthian,  where  his  arrow 
hit,  for  it  sped  straight  in  front  at  the  selected  feather 
of  the  eagle.  Slowly  they  ascended  the  old  maple 
walk,  but  her  waning  laughter  and  her  chang- 
ing cheeks  were  telling  tales  and  her  fast-flow- 
ing spirits  were  beginning  to  eddy  in  the  viewless 
mysteries  of  her  frightened  heart.  As  soon  as  he 
was  seated  in  the  old  colonial  house,  she  excused  her- 
self for  retiring  to  put  off  her  bonnet  and  change  her 
fatigue  shoes.  The  sister  came  in  and  entertained 
him  while  she  was  gone.  She  consumed  all  the  time 
to  return  that  politeness  permitted.  The  subject  to 
which  he  had  alluded  lay  deep  in  her  heart,  but  it  had 
lain  so  long  without  expression  that  she  tried  to  be- 
lieve it  was  only  a  fleeting  fancy,  and  that  after  all  it 
was  the  mists  of  memory,  and  not  the  murmuring 
waters  of  love  that  filled  her  soul  and  gently  sang 
unbodied  songs  of  her  Southern  experiences.  Hav- 
ing poised  herself  for  what  might  betide,  she  again 

14 


210  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

entered  the  room,  apparently  with  that  composure 
which  had  graced  every  step  and  softened  each  look 
and  word  of  the  morning. 

Soon  he  arose  to  leave,  saying,  "I  go  with  some 
people  to  visit  points  of  interest  in  the  suburbs  of 
Boston  and  the  Bay  to-morrow,  but  hope  to  see  all  of 
you  again  before  I  leave  for  Kentucky." 

Mrs.  Sayr,  who  had  come  in,  said,  "May  I  ask  who 
will  compose  your  party?  We  may  know  some  of 
them." 

"Oh,  yes,"  said  he,  "I  only  know  one  of  them. 
Major  Paymento,  whom  I  met  at  the  Revere  House. 
Through  his  courtesy  I  was  asked  to  go  along,  after 
he  learned  I  was  acquainted  with  Miss  Sayr,  'the 
great  authoress.'  " 

Mrs.  Sayr  laughed  pleasantly  and  said,  "That  is 
just  like  Major  Paymento.  He  gets  acquainted  with 
everybody,  and  never  tires  talking  of  Lema's  skill  as 
a  writer." 

Robert  Hope  bade  the  ladies  good-bye  with  cordial 
courtesy.  Mrs.  Sayr  detained  him  a  moment  to  say 
she  would  be  pleased  for  him  and  Major  Paymento  to 
dine  with  them  the  day  after  their  excursion  through 
the  suburbs  of  Boston.  He  politely  consented  to  do 
so  with  secret  pleasure,  whose  expression,  however, 
he  held  in  check.  His  soldierly  form  disappeared, 
and  Lema  went  to  her  library  to  ponder  over  what 
she  knew  of  him;  to  analyze  her  feelings  and  relieve 
her  soul  of  its  burdeji  which  seemed  to  be  gathering 
anew  as  joys  and  sorrows  long  since  departed  forced 
Iheir  painful  recollections  upon  her.     Her  integrity 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  211 

forbade  her  to  fly  from  duty  for  the  sake  of  pleasure, 
yet  her  joy  and  sorrow  seemed  beyon^  control,  sub- 
ject alone  to  chance  and  circumstance,  and  alternate- 
ly to  fill  her  heart  with  transitory  transports  or  cast 
her  down  from  perilous  heights.  She  could  work, 
write,  serve,  but  love's  caprices  and  joy's  uncer- 
tainties played  havoc  with  her  feelings  and  flew 
away,  only  to  return  again  with  protean  shapes  to 
test  or  destroy  by  their  weird  transitions.  She  had 
never  held,  with  firm  grasp,  the  rudder  of  sentiment 
and  steered  for  port  through  the  sea  of  human  pas- 
sions. Her  sentimental  qualities  had  seemed  to  float 
upon  the  bosom  of  the  waters  of  life  commanding  the 
charity  of  one,  the  pity  of  another,  and  allowing  the 
subjects  of  her  sympathies  to  present  at  will  the  oc- 
casion for  their  exercise.  The  fields  of  her  sentiment 
were  determined  by  chance  and  time,  which  appeared 
to  have  alternately  gleaned  until  not  a  sheaf  of  happy 
hope  was  left  for  this  loving  Ruth.  And  now  she 
wondered  what  she  could  do  if  he  were  to  press  the 
conclusions  of  love  upon  her  and  demand  the  destruc- 
tion of  the  reunited  ties  of  home  and  all  the  associa- 
tions which  had  ripened  within  the  walls  of  "Think." 
Her  soul  had  grown  deeper,  but  it  was  now  tumultu- 
ous. Here  was  the  publisher's  first  copy  of  her  first 
book,  named,  as  one  of  Tolstoi's,  "War  and  Peace." 
She  took  it  from  its  place  in  the  bookcase  and  read 
the  preface  and  dedication,  dreaming  over  again  the 
life  of  the  beautiful  and  courageous  characters  and 
touching  incidents  with  which  she  had  graced  its 
pages;  there  was  her  "History  of  Massachusetts," 


212  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

more  beautifully  written  than  Dickens'  '  'Child's  His- 
tory of  England,"  which  is  romance,  not  history;  she 
took  it  down  and  recalled  the  painstaking  accuracy 
with  which  she  had  stated  facts  and  the  favor  the 
public  had  bestowed  upon  it;  and  just  above  the  man- 
telpiece lay,  on  the  "philosophy  shelf,"  her  work  on 
the  "Science  of  Life."  In  it  she  had  written  pro- 
foundly of  the  odylic  force  which  Reichenback  says 
burns  blue  from  female  finger  tips.  She  wondered  if 
she  had  been  mesmerized  by  everybody  for  whom  she 
had  had  a  sympathy.  She  began  to  believe  much  in 
the  overmastering  power  of  exoteric  media  and  in- 
tangible forces  and  in  the  doctrine  that  some  natures 
are  rarer  receptacles  of  the  secrets  of  nature  than 
others,  and  that  sooner  or^  later  all  things  will  be 
known  through  that  refined  electrical  apparatus  called 
Brain,  which  is  capable  of  birth -knowledge  of  solar 
time  and  a  thousand  overgrown  capacities  which  ab- 
sorb all  the  rest;  capacities  ignorantly  called  freaks 
by  the  unthinking.  She  spent  the  whole  of  the  after- 
noon thinking  over  the  past  and  trying  to  quell 
the  strife  of  her  soul.  Late  at  night  her  mother 
heard  a  low  moaning  and  called  her,  but  no  answer 
came.  Then  she  went  into  the  library  and  said, 
"Come,  daughter,  you  have  sat  up  too  late  already." 

"O  mother!  I  am  so  miserable!  I  must  tell  you 
all  or  my  heart  will  break !"  burst  from  her  lips  in 
sad,  wild  tones  of  helplessness  and  despair. 

The  alert  old  mother,  straight-laced  in  principle, 
pure  in  thought  and  wise  in  the  laws  of  nature,  sat 
down  by  her  side,  having  long  since  fathomed  the 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  213 

depths  of  Lema's  soul,  to  hear  its  secrets.  Looking 
into  her  mother's  gentle  gaze  she  read  the  knowledge 
which  she  had  just  proposed  to  impart. 

"I  see  you  understand  it  all,  mother;  I  do  not  want 
to  leave  you!  but  if  he  sees  me  again  and  asks  it  of 
me,  I  do  fear  my  own  power  to  refuse  him." 

Mrs.  Sayr  had  marked  enough  of  Robert  Hope  to 
con  via  ce  her  of  his  worthiness,  and,  barring  his  war 
record,  she  thought  him  an  admirable  man. 

"Well!  Well!"  said  she,  "a  good  sleep  will  knit  up 
the  raveled  sleeve  of  love  just  as  it  does  any  other 
raveled  sleeve.  Come!  Go  to  bed  and  dream  of 
peace  and  union  which  has  come  to  your  aMcted 
country  and  you  may  find  solace  for  your  own  affl.ic- 
tions. " 

Next  morning  at  breakfast  Lema  was  smiling,  jest- 
ing, laughing,  humorous  and  happy.  The  sage  moth- 
er noted  it  all.  For  her  own  good  New  England 
heart  had  made  peace  through  the  night  with  the 
prejudices  of  war. 

Robert  Hope's  brave  and  honorable  career  chroni- 
cled in  her  mind  by  Lema's  oft-told  tales,  and  his 
fine  form,  returning  health,  chaste  speech  and  spirit- 
ual eyes  had  broken  down  the  middle  wall  of  parti- 
tion that  separated  him  from  the  followers  of  the  old 
flag  and  enriched  her  spirit  with  forgiveness,  even 
with  love,  for  the  Union's  prodigal  son,  as  she  began 
to  consider  him.  She  would  not  wreck  her  dutiful 
daAighter's  happiness  nor  mar  its  future  by  any 
grudging  withholdings. 

The  third  day  like  a  throbbing  Easter  came.  Lema 


214  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

went  forth  for  her  morning  walk,  and,  as  she  stooa 
on  the  gentle  slope  of  the  lawn,  seeing  and  hearing 
the  Creator  through  the  insistent  forces  of  nature, 
her  lively  imagination,  tempered  by  the  chastened 
feelings  of  her  heart,  converted  the  jeweled  dews, 
the  fresh  buds,  the  blooming  flowers,  the  twitter  and 
flight  of  birds,  the  sunlit  landscape,  the  blue  sky 
above  and  the  deep  blue  sea  and  its  deep  utterance 
into  human  joy — into  the  purest  charms  of  being  and 
existence.  To  her  the  inanimate  world  was  alive, 
and  sea  and  sky,  with  their  infinite  mysteries,  were 
unexplored  regions  of  God's  necessary  power. 

Major  Paymento  and  Robert  Hope  spent  the  day 
with  them.  War  history,  war  talks,  peace,  union, 
the  country's  future  consumed  most  of  the  day's  con- 
versation. Major  Paymento  interspersed  the  last 
subject  with  boiling  expletives  against  "the  selfish 
and  contemptible  patriotism  of  pension  grabbers  and 
pension  advocates?"  "No  soldier,"  said  he,  "ought 
to  have  a  pension  except  for  gallantry  on  the  field, 
and  in  that  case  only  for' the  purpose  of  elevating  the 
example  and  causing  it  to  be  emulated. " 

"But  what  about  helpless  widows  and  children  of 
the  dead  who  may  have  lost  their  lives  in  the  service, 
and  also  those  incapacitated  by  wounds  from  earning 
an  honest  living?  All  civilized  governments  have 
aided  such,"  said  Robert  Hope. 

"That  is  true,"  returned  the  proud  old  Massachu- 
setts patriot,  '  'but  too  much  should  not  be  given  even 
to  these  worthy  classes,  because  it  tends  to  reduce 
soldiers  to  mercenaries  and  "oatriotism  to  the  level  of 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  215 

barter  and  trade,  exchanging  blood  for  money  and 
money  for  blood.  Who  wants  to  sell  his  blood  to  his 
own  Government,  and  that  a  Government  of  the  peo- 
ple, for  the  people,  and  by  the  people?  If  a  man 
should  die  for  his  home,  his  wife  and  his  children 
without  being  moved  to  it  by  filthy  lucre,  he  certainly 
should  be  willing  to  be  killed  and  wounded  like  an 
American  and  not  like  a  Hessian  who  fights  alone  for 
pay  and  plunder.  I  detest  mercenaries  of  any  coun- 
try, and  do  hope  that  the  American  Congress  will 
never  reduce  the  dead  and  wounded  soldiers  of  the 
Union  to  the  level  of  bounty  jumpers,  pension  grab- 
bers, service  ^  pensioners  and  dependent  kin,  their 
uncles,  their  cousins  and  their  aunts,  by  placing  them 
on  the  same  rolls  together.  Sir,  rather  than  be  such 
a  mendicant,  I  would  prefer  to  share  the  military 
glory  of  the  rebels  who  fought  like  lions  without 
either  pay,  provisions  or  pensions,  losing  all  they 
had  and  then  refusing  to  complain  of  their  hard 
luck." 

Every  word  the  old  Major  uttered  was  emphasized 
with  vigor,  with  great  earnestness  mixed  with  royal 
contempt.  Seeing  that  the  conversation  was  too 
realistic,  Robert  Hope  artfully  turned  its  current  and 
soon  the  social  geniality  of  the  old  patriot  straight- 
ened out  the  kinks  and  wrinkles  of  his  mind  into 
which  the  thought  of  unworthy  pensioners  had  crum- 
pled it. 

*  'I  read, "  said  he,  '  'Miss  Sayr,  your  last  work  with 
great  interest.  It  is  a  peculiar  view  of  life.  I  had 
never  before  placed  the  forces  of  life  in  the  category 


216  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

of  the  exact  sciences,  and,  while  you  treat  the  sub- 
ject with  skill,  I  must  say  I  thought  you  wrote  from 
experience  as  much  as  from  theory  or  logical  con- 
cepts." 

Lema  blushed  violently  because  Major  Paymento's 
remarks  struck  the  keynote  of  her  life  which  formed 
the  foundation  stone  of  her  book;  and  what  if  he 
knew  of  the  vicissitudes  of  her  feeling  heart,  and 
should  branch  off  into  particulars.  He  was  just  hon- 
est enough  to  do  so.  This  thought  frightened  her 
until  the  roses  of  her  cheeks  withered  into  snow. 
Her  color  gradually  returned  while  all  seemed  to  be 
thinking  only  of  the  ideas  Major  Paymento  was  ad- 
vancing respecting  her  latest  and  most  successful 
work. 

Major  Paymento  continued  the  thread  of  his 
thoughts  and  descanted  most  learnedly  and  politely 
upon  the  intrinsic  merits  of  "The  Science  of  Life." 
After  exposition  of  various  theories  and  expansion 
of  those  contained  in  her  now  famous  book,  the  table 
talk  descended  from  its  philosophical  perch  and 
spread  its  wings  of  wit,  fancy  and  mirth  over  all  who 
sat  around  this  social  board. 

Major  Paymento  said,  'T  have  pulled  the  bridle  off 
my  tongue  and  let  it  run  too  much;  but  who  could 
obey  the  Scriptures  when  pension  leeches  and  the 
whole  problem  of  life  confronted  him  at  once?" 

All  declared  that  he  needed  no  excuse,  and  Robert 
Hope  said,  "Refreshing  candor  and  disinterested  pa- 
triotism will  never  tax  the  temper  of  an  American 
dinner  party." 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  217 

"Gracefully  said,  sir!"  cried  Mrs.  Sayr,  and  the 
company,  like  the  committee  of  the  whole  in  the 
House  of  Commons,  rose  and  reported  progress  to 
themselves  and  sat  again.  After  an  hour's  pleasant 
conversation  they  resolved  to  meet  at  another  time, 
if  opportunity  should  ever  offer  itself,  and  Robert 
Hope  and  Major  Paymento  departed. 

Lema  went  quickly  to  her  study,  threw  herself 
into  the  old  maple  chair,  and,  folding  her  arms  in  a 
sad  knot  upon  the  writing  table,  sank  her  face  deep 
in  the  loose  silken  sleeves  of  her  gown. 

"What!  gone  without  a  word?"  she  sadly  repeat- 
ed. After  studying  with  closed  eyes  this  quotation, 
she  arose,  and,  looking  through  the  window  and  far 
away  where  the  moaning  breakers  roar,  tenderly  re- 
peated for  comfort  the  other  two: 

"Ay,  so  true  love  should  do:  it  cannot  speak; 
For  truth  hath  better  deeds  than  words  to  grace  it." 

The  next  day  he  came  again,  and  they  met  in  the 
consecrated  library;  there  alone  their  words  were 
spoken;  there  their  souls,  with  full  tender  commun- 
ings, made  the  very  walls  feel  happy;  there  they 
lingered  till  the  fires  of  everyday  life  seemed  burnt 
out  and  all  else  ignoble,  commonplace.  In  the  light 
that  streamed  through  the  red-lettered  window,  sur- 
rounded by  the  books  of  her  choice  and  of  her  mak- 
ing, and  where  the  unrest  and  roar  of  the  sea  were 
ceaseless,  they  bound  up  the  wounds  of  their  hearts 
made  one  by  war's  chances  and  sufferings.  He  went 
away  with  the  sweetest  and  richest  treasure  of  earth, 


218  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

a  pure  woinan's  plighted  troth,  and  eagerly  sought 
his  old  Kentucky  home,  nestling  beneath  the  vernal 
sun  of  a  balmy  climate,  and  in  the  bluegrass  and 
bursting  flowers  of  a  generous  soil. 

His  old  father  tottered  to  the  door,  the  mother  and 
sisters  ran  to  the  gate,  Aunt  Usley  stood  with  her 
hands  on  her  hips  in  the  yard,  and  the  sunlight  of  day 
welcomed  him  back  to  the  hearthstone,  whence  at 
midnight  he  had  fled,  nearly  three  years  before,  a 
skulking  outcast  with  a  homesick  heart. 

After  shaking  hands  with  him,  Aunt  Usley  went 
waddling  back  to  her  cabin,  muttering,  in  mild  indig- 
nation, "Aunt  Usley  wa'n't  gwine  to  tell  dem  ole 
Yankees  on  Mos  Robert,  en  she  didn't,  nudder." 

During  the  first  week  of  his  return  he  had  outlined 
and  illustrated  his  whole  essential  career  as  a  soldier, 
and  had  also  confided  to  his  sisters  and  mother  some- 
thing more  absorbingly  interesting  than  stories  of  the 
war.  When  the  father  learned — which  was  as  soon 
as  the  mother  got  an  opportunity  to  tell  him — of 
Robert's  engagement  to  Miss  Sayr,  he  declared  the 
wedding  should  not  be  deferred  a  day  beyond  what 
was  necessary  for  Robert  to  get  ready  and  return  to 
Boston.  All  joined  in  a  letter  to  Lema's  mother, 
and  Robert  wrote  many  details  bearing  on  their  im- 
mediate and  ultimate  future,  adding  some  very  strong 
reasons  in  favor  of  his  father's  views.  After  a  fort- 
night's consideration  the  two  families  were  at  one, 
and  in  the  leafy  month  of  June  Robert  and  Lema 
stood  upon  his  father's  wide  veranda,  the  recipients 
of  the  graceful  courtesy  and  love  of  his  sisters  and 
the  adoration  of  his  father  and  mother. 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  213 

The  flowers  and  fields  were  brilliant;  the  quail 
were  whistling,  "Bob  White,"  on  the  fences;  the  free 
black  man  and  the  slave  mule  were  lazily  "plowin'  de 
coan,"  as  of  yore;  the  mocking  bird's  song  was  more 
nearly  human  than  ever,  and  once  more  the  sun  shone 
bright  in  this  old  Kentucky  home. 

All  hearts  were  joyous  and  gay  over  Lema's  advent 
into  the  family,  for  Robert,  and  Robert's  word  was  to 
be  trusted,  had  said  her  heart  was  good  and  kind,  her 
mind  both  solid  and  brilliant,  and  her  life  blameless. 
Profert  had  been  made  by  him  of  her  beauty  on  dull 
canvas,  but  the  mother  declared,  and  the  sisters,  as 
soon  as  they  saw  her,  reiterated,  that  it  had  fallen 
far  short  of  the  truth. 

Tlie  old  father  led  them  into  the  great  wide  hall, 
on  either  side  of  which  hung  the  family  pictures  and 
the  portraits  of  favorite  Kentuckians — Henry  Clay 
and  Richard  H.  Menifee,  for  this  was  an  old  Whig 
family,  Albert  Sydney  Johnston  and  John  C.  Breck- 
inridge— brought  from  their  hiding  places  when  j^eace 
was  made,  because  there  were  no  Southern  soldiers 
left  to  make  war,  and  looked  intently,  softly,  into 
their  eyes  while  holding  each  by  the  hand  and  said, 
"Robert,  this  looks  like  the  cruel  war  is  over  and  a 
perfect  union  between  North  and  South  established."' 
The  mother  wanted  to  take  things  a  bit  seriously,  but 
the  daughters  laughed  with  their  cheeks,  with  their 
eyes,  their  hands  and  feet,  their  joy  was  unconfined 
and  knew  no  bounds. 

Preparations  for  the  wedding  guests  m- ere  in  a  high 
state,  with  no  ancient  mariner  about.     Colored  boys, 


220  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

mounted  on  thoroughbred  horses,  had  scurried  along 
the  pikes  and  over  the  blue  pastures  for  miles  around 
delivering  the  invitations. 

The  reception,  in  those  days  called  an  inf  air,  began 
at  eight  o'clock  that  evening.  The  house  was  filled 
with  bluegrass  beauties,  those  of  the  very  white  fore- 
heads, chestnut  brown  hair,  which  predominates  in 
the  bluegrass  region,  brown  eyes  and  blue,  fine 
forms,  all  graceful,  with  not  a  waist  like  a  wasp's, 
but  a  capite  ad  calcem,  a  finished  natural  production,  a 
production  Vv^hich  springs  from  a  soil  based  on  lime- 
stone resting  solidly  under  red  adhesive  clay,  which 
supports  the  deep  dark  loam  that  carpets  the  earth 
with  unique  grasses.  The  men,  from  whom  Frederick 
the  Great  and  Napoleon  would  have  given  a  province 
to  pick  an  old  guard  or  cavalry  corps,  were  there — 
the  analogy  and  precedent  from  which  gods  might 
have  sprung,  and,  by  any  test  of  excellence  as  a  body, 
the  best  physical  growth  of  human  beings  in  the  re- 
public— perhaps  on  earth. 

Music  and  fiowers  and  dancing,  bright  humor,  cour- 
tesy born  of  courage,  minds  benefited  by,  but,  unlike 
those  of  Boston,  not  wholly  made  up  of  culture,  good, 
graceful  intercourse,  free  from  heavy  philosophy, 
unbookish,  but  gallant  and  intelligent,  such  as  killed 
care  and  made  the  occasion  pleasant  and  happy, 
squeezed  from  life  its  acrids,  its  war-born  passions, 
its  bloody  memories,  and  crowned  the  marriage  of 
Robert  Hope  and  Lema  Sayr  with  an  old  Kentucky 
welcome. 

When  the  feast,  such  as  Greek  gods  never  tasted, 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  221 

was  announced,  the  table  was  a  poem  and  the  grace 
of  the  people  more  graceful  than  the  table  and  better 
than  the  dinner, 

Lema  Sayr  Hope  was  the  object  of  the  daintiest 
and  manliest  courtesies,  and  her  perfect  grace  in 
movement,  clear  blue  eye,  high-purposed  countenance, 
gentle  voice  and  rare  laugh  made  all  around  her  smile. 
Though  everybody  danced  well,  yet  she  was  the 
poetry  of  motion  and  a  whirling  song. 

General  Bright  had  been  invited  and  was  present. 
He  said,  '  'Everything  would  be  complete  if  poor  lit- 
tle Lexie  were  here. "  At  the  table  and  during  the 
intervals  of  the  dance  he  received  marked  attention, 
for  he  was  native  to  Woodford  County  and  to  the 
manner  born.  He  had  graduated  from  the  Frankfort 
Military  Institute  and  entered  the  United  States  Army 
before  the  war.  During  the  great  struggle  he  rose 
rapidly  from  Lieutenant  to  Colonel,  from  Colonel  to 
Brigadier  General,  and  near  its  close  received  the 
double  brevet  of  Major  General  of  the  Regular  Army 
and  also  of  Volunteers  for  gallant  and  meritorious 
conduct  on  the  field.  Every  son  and  daughter  of 
Woodford,  nine -tenths  of  whom  were  Southern, 
claimed  a  joint  right  to  his  fame,  and  he  was  conse- 
quently very  popular  at  Robert  Hope's  wedding  recep- 
tion. 

Major  Paymento  and  Mrs.  Paymento  had  accom- 
panied the  wedding  party  from  Boston.  The  old 
Major  fraternized  beautifully  with  the  Kentuckians, 
but  the  subject  of  pensions  being  mentioned,  he  broke 
forth  into  reprobating  pensioners  until  he  lost  his 


222  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

listeners.  Mrs  Paymento  was  expostulating  with 
him  when  Captain  McCook  joined  them. 

"Captain  McCook,"  said  she,  "my  husband  is  so 
opposed  to  the  extension  of  pensions  that  he  has  got 
so  he  loses  his  temper  whenever  the  subject  is  men- 
tioned. Noiu  do  you  think  that  is  right?  Ought  not 
patriotism  to  be  rewarded?" 

"No,"  interrupted  the  Major,  "for  old  Sam  John- 
son said  patriotism  is  the  last  refuge  of  scoundrels 
who  want  a  reward  for  it,  and  I  am  beginning  to  be- 
lieve him. " 

"That  man  is  little  to  be  envied,"  said  Captain  Mc- 
Cook, *  'whose  patriotism  would  not  gather  more  force 
without  a  pension  than  with  it." 

"That  is  the  law  and  the  gospel  on  the  subject," 
exclaimed  the  Major,  who,  at  that  moment,  caught 
General  Bright's  eye  as  he  approached  them. 

"What  do  you  say  about  pensions,  General?" 

'  'I  never  thought  of  one  and  know  nothing  about 
the  subject." 

"Now,  there  is  disinterested  patriotism,"  cried  the 
old  Major,  "go  through  the  war,  be  wounded  three 
times  and  brevetted  six  times  without  ever  thinking 
of  a  pension." 

"Come,  come,"  cried  Mrs.  Paymento,  "you  must 
stop  this  pension  talk.  Captain  McCook,  do  you  in- 
tend to  remain  a  bachelor  and  do  without  a  pension 
too?" 

"I  do,"  said  he,  "for  Miss  Lema  Sayr  has  joined 
the  rebels  and  I  won't  join  the  pensioners." 

All  of  them  laughed,  for  this  was  cheerfully  said 
by  Captain  McCook. 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY,  223 

"But  here  comes  some  Woodford  beauties  who  will 
change  your  mind,"  cried  Mrs.  Paymento,  and  Cap- 
tain McCook  immediately  secured  one  of  them  for  a 
waltz  and  the  next  set,  leaving  General  Bright  and 
Mrs.  Paymento  deeply  engaged  in  conversation  with 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Robert  Hope,  while  Major  Paymento 
was  holding  his  peace  on  pensions. 

The  writer  leaves  them  under  the  lovely  form  of 
the  bow  of  peace  in  the  full  pursuit  of  happiness 
under  the  Constitution  of  the  restored  Union,  crying, 
as  St.  Paul  Sarpe  cried  in  Venice,  "Esto  Perpetua.'' 

He  who  reads  this  allegory  and  does  not  feel  that 
this  is  a  Union  of  hearts  with  one  patriotism,  one  hu- 
manity, holding  high  the  torch  of  Liberty  that  will 
yet  enlighten  the  world,  is  unfit  to  enjoy  the  civic 
rights  of  an  American. 


XXVII. 

THE  armed  War  of  Politics  was  over,  but  with 
tongues  it  was  yet  to  last  for  decades  to  come. 
The  occupation  of  contractors,  sutlers,  bounty  jump- 
ers, war-shirks  and  substitutes  was  gone,  but  pen- 
sion possibilities  had  a  new  birth  and  soon  began  its 
trespassing  acquisition  of  a  limitless  lease  upon  the 
property  and  earnings  of  the  American  people. 

At  the  following  election  Pate  Wolf  stood  for  Mag- 
istrate of  the  Tippling  Fork  precinct,  on  the  plat- 
form, "Let  us  have  Peace,  Plenty  and  Pensions," 
which  Penn  Grabb6  had,  with  "apt  alliteration's  art- 
ful aid,"  constructed  for  him.  The  election  was  very 
exciting,  but,  when  the  polls  closed  and  the  old 
Union  hero  left  for  Roan,  he  was  three  to  one  ahead 
of  his  opponent.  Late  in  the  evening,  as  he  rode 
into  that  patriotic  town,  he  sat  Flat-Poot  with  origi- 
nal dignity — modified,  it  must  be  said,  with  some 
swagger.  He  had  a  right  to  be  proud,  for  he  had 
led  the  ticket  and  crushed  the  opposition. 

Some  one  observed  his  approach  and  shouted, 
"Yonder  comes  Fate  Wolf!" 

Immediately  Eph  Soaks,  Tom  McShite,  Lyt  War- 
drip,  "Colonel"  Patter  and  twenty  others  came  rush- 
ing to  meet  him,  cheering  him  as  he  came. 

224 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  225 

Dismounting  with  unequivocal  strength  and  the 
manner  of  men  loaded  with  pride,  he  cried,  "Hyur, 
boys,  one  uv  you  hold  Fiat-Foot.  I'm  turrible  tir'd, 
fur  I've  bean  a  runnin'  ever  sence  mornin'  like  a 
skeered  fox  houn'." 

At  that  epigrammatic  condensation  of  results  his 
admirers  made  the  welkin  ring.  Instantly  he  was 
seized  by  a  half  dozen  and  hoisted  to  their  shoulders 
and  carried  into  the  bar-room.  There  he  ordered  the 
drinks  for  the  crowd  upon  the  same  bar-counter  on 
which  "Colonel"  Patter,  in  1861,  laid  off  the  battle- 
field of  Bull  Run. 

Eph  Soaks  said,  "When  I  left  the  Tipplin'  Fork  at 
dinner  time  Fate  Wolf  wus  a  out-runnin'  his  name- 
sake," covertly  alluding  to  a  wolf. 

Tom  McShite  sniffed  and  whisked  about  the  bar- 
room, repeating,  "En  he  kep'  on  a  out-runnin'  'em." 

This  brought  out  a  loud  laugh  from  old  Jo  Soaks, 
who  had  followed  them  into  the  bar-room. 

Penn  Grabbe,  raising  his  glass  to  drink  a  toast  to 
Fate  Wolf,  peace,  plenty  and  pensions,  said,  "I  pro- 
pose to  give  'Squire  Wolf  an  office  in  my  Hallen 
house  free  of  rent  during  his  whole  term  and  all  my 
pension  business  besides. " 

This  statement  was  loudly  applauded,  but  Fate 
Wolf  took  it  very  much  as  a  matter  of  course,  "fur," 
said  he,  in  response  to  the  toast,  '  'I  made  the  fight 
on  his  P.  P.  P.  's  en  never  crossed  a  *t'  nur  blacked  a 
'1'  en  ez  a  matter  uv  jestice  I  except  his  properzi- 
tion." 

This  response  produced  a  diminutive  riot,  which 

15 


226  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

lasted  full  five  minutes.  Just  then  several  of  the 
Hawkins,  Fadges,  Blacks,  Whites,  Greens,  and 
Browns,  Smiths  and  Jones  arrived  from  Tippling 
Fork  in  great  triumph.  It  was  then  growing  dark, 
but  Roan,  and  especially  Pension  Grabb  street,  was 
ablaze  with  the  victory  of  the  old  Union  hero.  Penn 
Grabb6,  having  seen  that  the  boys  were  properly  fra- 
ternizing on  Pate  Wolf's  platform,  quietly  withdrew 
and  left  for  home.  Along  the  way  his  thoughts  took 
a  skillful  turn  and  with  the  keenest  mental  strategy 
he  traced  the  lines  of  future  plans.  He  was  already 
a  pension  attorney  and  had  learned  the  clandestine 
details  of  that  position  with  an  accuracy  which  poor 
Chief  Justice  Long,  whose  total  disability  curtailed 
his  earning  power  to  a  meagre  six  thousand  a  year, 
afterwards  might  have  admired  extravagantly.  A 
bright  political  future  seemed  to  open  before  Penn 
Grabb6  and  every  day  thereafter  to  widen  his  plans 
and  free  his  conscience  from  little  shackles.  He  had 
cast  his  horoscope  over  the  future  and  felt  he  was 
master  of  its  destinies.  His  perfected  plans  only  re- 
mained to  be  executed. 

Fate  Wolf,  having  received  his  commission,  took 
the  official  oath  and  entered  upon  the  discharge  of 
his  duties.  He  established  his  main  office  in  his 
double  cabin  in  the  lone  obscurities  of  Tippling  Fork 
and  opened  a  branch  with  Penn  Grabb6  in  the  Hallen 
house.  The  latter  explained  to  Fate  Wclf  that  it  was 
necessary  to  have  a  large  number  of  blank  forms  on 
hand  on  account  of  anticipated  flush  times  in  pensions. 
He  showed  him  the  forms  adopted  by  the  Pension 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  227 

Department,  and  that  almost  everything  was  alike  in 
each  claimant's  case,  leaving  but  little  to  be  filled  in 
with  original  matter. 

'Squire  Wolf  said,  "It  would  be  a  big  savin'  uv 
time  to  hav  sich  forms  a  lyin'  aroun'." 

Penn  Grabb6  also  suggested  that  it  would  be  a  great 
convenience  to  pension  patriots  to  have  the  forms 
sworn  to  in  advance,  so  they  could  be  filled  up  there- 
after as  facts  developed  without  calling  any  Cincin- 
natus  from  his  plough  too  often. 

This  suggestion  struck  a  vibratory  chord  in  Fate 
Wolf's  nature,  a  chord  which  gave  out  a  response  at 
once  loud  and  harmonious.  He  started  home  that 
night,  as  was  his  wont  after  office  hours,  and,  in  deep 
revery,  rode  the  whole  way.  He  conceived  a  lofty 
respect  for  the  technical  ability  of  Penn  Grabb6,  and 
considered  him  the  most  dexterous-minded  man  he 
had  ever  seen.  It  is  true,  he  had  some  misgivings  of 
the  future,  and  felt  a  little  like  Quirk  in  the  hands  of 
Oily  Gammon,  but  expressed  his  fears  differently, 
often  saying  to  himself,  "I  reckon  he  wouldn't  play 
Ben  Dick  Arnold  on  me  ef  them  loaded  forms 
mightn't  shoot  straight  or  wus  to  bust  in  our  hands. " 

He  talked  it  all  over  with  Scatlett  that  night,  and 
she  said,  '  'Don't  you  do  nary  wrong  thing  fur  nobody 
nur  fur  nothin',  nur  Penn  Grabb6,  nuther." 

He  said  he  wouldn't  "onless  by  refusin'  it  mout 
cheat  a  honest  patriot  out'n  uv  a  jest  pension. " 

Before  many  days  had  come  and  gone,  Eph  Soaks 
applied  for  a  pension.  A  difficulty,  in  the  barbarous 
language  of  lawyers,  arose  in  limine.     He  never  had 


228  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

been  enlisted  in  any  regiment  by  the  name  of  Eph 
Soaks.  The  name  under  which  he  had  enlisted  stood 
on  the  rolls  opposite  the  word,  "Deserter."  Epa- 
minodas  Brown,  called  Ep  for  short,  had  gone  with 
the  army  from  Tippling  Fork.  He  had  neither  heirs 
nor  kindred,  and  had  heart  disease.  While  his  name 
was  on  the  muster  rolls,  he  merely  followed  the  camp 
to  see  if  he  could  stand  it.  Nobody  on  Tippling  Fork 
believed,  when  he  left,  that  he  could  live  through  the 
war.  At  Big  Hill  an  unexpected  rebel  yell,  coming, 
as  it  did,  from  toward  the  rear,  untimely  frightened 
him  to  the  viewless  shades  or  until  his  heart  stopped 
beating,  which  was  the  same  thing. 

As  Eph  Soaks  had  done  a  great  deal  of  service  and 
had  nothing  much  to  show  for  it,  it  was  concluded  that 
he  might  be  a  kinsman  of  Ep  Brown,  and,  being  equita- 
bly entitled  to  a  pension,  Grabbe  thought  there  was 
no  harm  in  Eph  Soaks  adopting  the  name  of  Brown. 
In  due  time  the  pension  was  obtained  with  large  ar- 
rears, and  natural  Eph  Soaks,  but  legal  Ep  Brown, 
was  restored  to  his  old-time  prosperity. 

Penn  Grabbe  had  obtained  access  to  the  muster 
rolls  at  Frankfort  and  had  in  his  employ  at  Washing; 
ton  an  agent  who  kept  him  informed  of  the  contents 
of  the  rolls  in  the  War  Department.  By  these  means 
he  discovered  many  curious  records  of  the  life  and 
services  of  the  soldiers  of  the  Union. 

One  day,  while  waiting  for  a  pension  client,  Penft 
Grabbe  said  to  Fate  Wolf,  '  'I  believe  God  was  on  the 
side  of  the  Union  soldiers  from  Kentucky  and  against 
her  rebels  more  than  anv  other  State." 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  229 

"Whatsumever  makes  sich  a  belief  ez  that  in  ye," 
asked  Fate  Wolf. 

"Well,"  said  Penn  Grabb4,  "Kentucky  had  seventy- 
two  thousand,  two  hundred  and  seventy-five  Union 
soldiers  and  only  two  thousand,  three  hundred  and 
twenty-five  were  killed  and  died  of  wounds^ — one  out 
of  thirty-one.  The  rebels  had  twenty-six  thousand, 
two  hundred  and  forty-nine  from  Kentucky  and  lost 
one  thousand,  seven  hundred  and  forty-eight  out  of 
five  thousand  at  the  battle  of  Stone  River,  and  more 
than  one-third  of  the  whole  number  during  the  war." 

"Whew!  What  a  pensionabler  crowd  them  rebels 
would  a  made  hed  they  bean  on  the  right  side,"  re- 
gretfully cried  Fate  Wolf. 

"You  just  wait,"  said  Penn  Grabbe,  "until  this  pen- 
sion fight  gets  warm  and  all  our  Union  kin  become 
interested  then  you  will  see  Kentucky  with  thirty 
thousand  pensioners,  and  a  good  chance  for  forty 
thousand." 

Penn  Grabbe  was  a  prophet,  without  honor  at  that 
time,  except  with  pension  applicants,  but  he  lived  to 
see  the  day  when  wrapt  Isaiah's  prophetic  fire  was 
not  more  bright. 

"Here  is  another  providential  thing  I  have  found 
out  from  the  records,"  remarked  Grabbe.  "Ken- 
tucky had  twenty-two  whole  regiments  on  the  Union 
side  that  went  through  the  war  and  never  got  an  offi- 
cer killed,  and  two  regiments  in  which  not  an  officet 
or  man  was  killed  or  wounded,  and  her  corps  of  en- 
gineers was  equally  fortunate." 

'  'Well,  that  beats  ennything  ever  I  seed, "  said  Fate 


230  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

Wolf.  "Ef  ever  a  fair  gives  premiums  fur  soldiers 
what  cum  out  the  best  in  this  yer  war,  Kaintucky  will 
take  the  blue  ribbon,  ur  a  white  feather,  one  ur 
tother. " 

'  'I  must  tell  you  of  a  curious  incident  while  we  are 
talking  of  the  marvelous,"  said  Grabb^,  apparently 
not  noticing  Fate  Wolf's  satire.  "It  occurred  at  the 
battle  of  Big  Hill.  Eph  Soaks  was  there  with  us, 
you  recollect." 

'  'I  reckon  I  do  reckerlect  onless  my  reckerlect  run 
off  like  we  did,"  broke  in  Fate  Wolf  with  a  big  laugh 
while  his  big,  dirty  blue  eyes  filled  with  tears. 

"The  day  before  that  disaster  Eph  Soaks  became 
acquainted  with  Colonel  Calfe,"  continued  Grabbe, 
"by  presenting  to  him  a  canteen  of  milk  and  a  jar  of 
honey,  which,  among  other  things,  he  had  captured 
from  a  rebel  citizen  who  lived  in  that  land  of  milk 
and  honey  a  half  mile  from  the  turnpike  on  which  Vv^e 
marched  to  meet  Kirby  Smith.  As  the  flight  began 
from  Big  Hill,  Colonel  Calfe  thought  he  saw  Eph 
Soaks  run  against  a  tree  and  kill  himself.  But  the 
Colonel  was  mistaken.  Eph  Soaks  had  only  been 
Absalomized  without  the  fate  of  that  rebellious 
prince.  From  the  entanglements  of  limbs  and  grape 
vines  into  which  he  had  run,  he  escaped  with 
scratches  and  bruises,  while  the  jest  of  those  that 
never  felt  a  wound,  will  make  good  pension  evi- 
dence." 

The  reader  will  remember  it  was  suggested  in  the 
early  pages  of  this  history  that  after  the  battle  of  Big 
Hill  the  next  roll  call  of  the  Flying  Seventh  cavalry 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  231 

was  made  in  the  State  of  Ohio.  Eph  Soaks  was 
missing  and  Colonel  Calfe  reported  him  killed  on  the 
battlefield  and  at  once  had  his  name  placed  upon  the 
rolls  of  Company  C,  as  he  intended  doing  before  the 
battle  began.  Thus  his  name  appeared  on  the  army 
roll  and  the  most  honorable  of  all  discharges  was  at- 
tached to  it,  "Killed  in  battle." 

When  Penn  Grabbe  discovered  these  facts  and 
found  the  name  of  Eph  Soaks  on  the  rolls,  he  was 
delighted  and  at  once  filled  up  a  declaration  for  Eph 
Soaks'  widow,  who  signed  and  swore  to  it  before 
'Squire  Wolf.  It  stated  that  E.  Soaks  was  enrolled 
in  August,  1862,  Company  C,  Seventh  regiment  of 
Kentucky  cavalry,  usually  called  "The  Flying  Cav- 
alry," and  was  killed  in  the  battle  of  Big  Hill,  leav- 
ing a  widow  and  seven  children  to  mourn  his  loss. 
The  proper  affidavits  of  identity  and  correspondence 
to  the  deceased  were  made  and  Eph  Soaks,  officially 
dead,  though  corporeally  living,  got  another  pension 
for  his  widow  and  children  with  whom  he  lived  to 
enjoy  it  for  many  a  good  day  thereafter. 
,  This  instance  modifies  the  charge  that  "Republics 
are  ungrateful." 

He  never  wavered  in  his  politics  but  once  and  that 
was  when  his  claim  for  a  pension  on  account  of 
wounds  received  in  battle  was  rejected.  He  then 
took  a  solemn  oath  that  if  ever  Republican  officials 
rejected  another  claim  of  his  he  would  vote  the  Dem- 
ocratic ticket,  and  if  another  war  broke  out  they 
might  do  their  own  fighting,  for  he  wouldn't  fight 
another  lick. 


232  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

Fate  Wolf  said,  "Eph  Soaks  would  make  wun  uv 
the  best  sperrit  mejjums  in  the  world,  fur  he  is  still 
alivin'  en  hez  bean  dead  twice. " 

Many  and  many  were  the  doubtful  and  difficult  but 
patriotic  claims  for  pensions  which  Penn  Grabb^'s 
strategy  successfully  established.  His  fame  soon 
went  abroad  over  all  the  land  as  the  best  pension 
attorney  practicing  at  the  pension  bar.  Claimants 
with  flaws  of  all  sorts  in  their  claims  flocked  to  his 
office.  He  had  increased  his  reputation  very  much 
by  giving  it  out  in  Speeches  that  he  only  wanted  to 
know  one  thing  to  get  a  pension  and  that  was,  "Is 
the  claimant  a  patriot. "  In  such  cases  he  was  never 
known  to  fail  until  his  strategy  was  foiled  in  an  at- 
tempt to  rerate  for  total  disability  the  pension  of 
Chief  Justice  Long,  of  Michigan,  who,  dependent 
upon  himself  alone  for  a  livelihood,  was  making  only 
six  thousand  dollars  a  year  as  Judge  of  the  Supreme 
Court  of  the  Lake  State ! 

That  failure  hurt  Penn  Grabb^'s  reputation  because 
it  was  said  by  Pate  Wolf  to  be  one  of  the  most  de- 
serving pensions  ever  demanded  from  the  Republic- 

If  Chief  Justice  Long  had  lived  in  Kentucky  when 
this  unexampled  ingratitude  was  shown  him  by  the 
Government  it  would  have  turned  the  thoughts  of 
Kentucky's  thirty  thousand  pensioners  to  the  tolera- 
ble conditions  which  successful  treason  might  have 
established.  Even  "Colonel"  Patter,  who  came  near 
being  led  away  into  rebellion,  remembered  him  from 
a  casual  loan  in  early  life  and  named  his  celebrated 
piebald   stallion,    Long-Leaper,  in    his   honor,    thus 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  233 

illustrating,  in  marked  contrast,  the  difference  be- 
tween individual  and  governmental  gratitude. 

Penn  Grabb4  ultimately  became  very  popular  and 
through  sheer  pressure  of  his  clientel  was  forced  to 
run  for  Congress. 

While  absent  on  his  canvass.  Fate  Wolf,  mousing 
among  his  papers  one  day,  found  the  title  deed  to  the 
Hallen  house.  He  read  it  carefully  and  with  great 
interest,  thinking  po'ssibly  that  Lexie  Hallen  might 
be  "kin"  to  its  original  owner.  He  had  formed  a 
great  attachment  for  her,  always  regretting  her 
flight  from  his  double-cabin. .  Like  most  men  of  his 
section,  he  had  an  innate  respect  for  a  woman  and 
would  rather  fly  to  her  assistance  than  take  sides 
against  her  on  any  pretext.  But  these  tendencies 
might  be  overcome,  especially  in  one  like  Fate  Wolf, 
whose  cupidity  made  such  a  slave  of  his  better  quali- 
ties as  to  cause  him  to  obey  or  trust  the  vilest  of 
men.  There  seemed  to  be  flaws  in  the  deed,  and  he 
applied  to  the  County  Clerk  for  information.  It  ap- 
peared that  the  Hallen  house  and  six  acres  of  ground 
had  escheated  to  the  State  "without  office  found" 
many  years  before  the  war,  but  was  afterwards  dis- 
escheated  and  sold  for  taxes,  Penn  Grabbe  becoming 
the  purchaser  at  four  dollars  aud  eighty  cents.  The 
deed  from  the  sheriff  showed  on  its  face  that  no  ad- 
vertisement of  the  sale  for  taxes  had  preceded  that 
confiscatory  act,  and  that  it  had  been  made  by  one  of 
Penn  Grabbe's  own  deputies  while  he  was  sheriff  of 
Branch  county  before  the  war. 

Fate  Wolf  immediately  wrote  a  confidential  letter 


234  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

to  Lexie  Hallen  explaining  at  great  length  and  much 
technical  confusion  the  condition  of  the  title,  wind- 
ing up  by  saying,  '  'Ef  ye  air  akin  to  Richard  Hallen 
I  kin  git  a  good  house  en  six  acre  uv  ground  back  fur 
ye.  Cum  right  on  without  enny  failure  whatsomever 
to  Roan.  The  old  umin  will  be  turrible  proud  to  see 
ye  ennyhow.  When  ye  git  hyur  say  nuthin'  to  no- 
body but  me  en  I'll  do  ye  right,  hunney." 

For  years  Penn  Grabb6  had  given  himself  no 
thought  about  the  title  to  the  Hallen  house.  His 
claim  had  ripened  by  lapse  of  time,  under  color  of 
title,  into  public  belief,  and  long  since,  like  his  con- 
science, his  title  seemed  to  have  been  quieted.  In 
fact,  he  had  improved  the  house  at  considerable  ex- 
pense before  opening  his  pension  office  in  it.  These 
improvements  added  much  to  the  beauty  of  Pension 
Grabb  street  and  Bounty  Jumpers'  avenue,  which 
crossed  the  former  west  of  the  Hallen  house.  He 
had  planted  rose  bushes,  water  maples,  chestnuts 
and  evergreen  pines  in  such  profusion  as  to  attract 
the  attention  of  visitors  to  Roan.  He  said  he  cared 
little  about  such  things,  but  the  prosperity  of  the 
town  and  the  good  of  his  neighbors  induced  him  to 
make  the  improvements. 

On  his  return  from  his  first  electioneering  tour  he 
reported  the  people  enthusiastic  for  him.  Pate  Wolf 
said  nothing  about  the  discovery  he  had  made  of  the 
title  deed.  Pension  claimants  were  pouring  in  more 
than  ever,  and  the  demand  on  Penn  Grabbe's  time 
was  interfering  with  his  race  and  rendering  Fate 
Wolf  uneasy  lest  Lexie   Hallen  might  come  before 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  235 

Penn  Grabb6  again  went  out  upon  his  canvass. 
Hence  Fate  Wolf  mislaid  some  of  the  most  difficult 
claims  and  so  manipulated  the  office  as  to  reduce 
pressing  business  and  render  Grabb^'s  presence  no 
longer  necessary. 

"Now,"  said  Fate  Wolf,  "is  yer  time  to  make  this 
hyur  canvass  beat  ennything  ennybody  ever  seed 
afore  it.  Ye  see  ef  ye  git  to  Congruss  the  patriots 
will  git  the  pensions,  en  ye  kin  hev  'em  encreased 
ontell  every  man  what  toted  a  gun  endurin'  uv  the 
war  will  tote  a  pension;  en  there's  yit  more  I'll  say, 
thur  present  f amblies  ort  to  have  some  pensions  fur 
ever'  wun  uv  'em  frum  father  to  mother,  sister  to 
brother  and  uncle  to  cousins  whethersomever  they 
be  in  tens  or  dozens.  You  ort  to  jist  advicate  that 
the  oldest  grandson  en  the  youngest  son  ort  to  be 
made  a  prime  uv  gennitur  patriot  by  givin'  'em  a  pen- 
sion fur  life  en  their  fust  airs  fur  ever,  so  that  the 
Government  kin  alays  hev  soldiers  fur  force  wars 
comin'  oif  yander  in  the  future." 

Penn  Grabbe  said,  "I  am  willing  to  advocate  these 
views,  but  the  time  is  not  ripe  for  sweeping  justice 
to  be  done  patriots  of  our  civil  war,  but  it  will  come, 
and  when  it  does  pensions  will  make  more  patriots 
than  any  other  one  thing  that  has  ever  been  tried  in 
the  history  of  governments. " 

The  next  day  he  started  upon  his  canvass  and  left 
Fate  Wolf  in  charge  of  the  office,  hoping  that  Lexie 
would  come  before  Penn  Grabb^  got  back. 


XXVIII. 

LEXIE  received  Fate  Wolf's  letter  just  in  time  to 
revive  declining  hopes  which  were  rapidly  sink- 
ing under  the  unappeasable  demands  for  rent  by  the 
owner  of  the  cottage  in  which  they  lived.  It  was 
eight  dollars  a  month.  They  were  too  poor  to  pay  it. 
Each  week  they  either  fell  behind  or  went  hungry. 
She  had  tried  to  get  violin  students,  but  failed  be- 
cause her  bowing  was  so  carelessly  easy  to  mothers 
ignorant  of  the  poetry  of  motion  or  bent  on  nothing 
less  than  Ole  Bull  himself  for  a  teacher. 

Their  landlord  said,  '  'This  is  the  last  notice  I  in- 
tend to  give  you.  You  must  vacate  to-day,  but  you've 
got  to  leave  that  big  picture  on  the  wall.  I  want 
some  security  for  my  rent  that'll  be  due  me,  after  the 
sale  of  your  table  and  cooking  stove.  They  won't 
bring  much." 

It  was  the  portrait  of  Lexie's  father  the  landlord 
coveted. 

"If  you  let  us  have  it,"  begged  Lexie,  "you  may 
take  our  dishes,  knives  and  forks,  some  of  them  are 
silver,  here  are  three  silver  spoons  and  two  dessert 
spoons  and  the  silver  ladle." 

"What  is  the  picture  worth?"  asked  the  shrewd 
landlord. 

236 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  23T 

"How  much  is  the  picture  worth?  Why,  sir,  it  is 
one  of  Jouett's — Kentucky's  noblest  artist!  It  cost 
eight  hundred  dollars,  so  mother  told  me  many  a  time 
before  she  died." 

He  thought  for  a  moment  and  said,  in  a  trading 
tone,  "Your  things  won't  bring  anything  at  public 
sale,  and  to  save  myself  I  must  keep  the  picture." 

Lexie's  pride  sank,  and,  with  a  troubled  heart,  she 
went  slowly  away,  casting  her  last  trembling  glance 
on  the  picture  of  her  father  that  hung  upon  the  little 
cottage  wall.  Thus  passed  from  his  family  the  pict- 
ure of  him  who,  once  wrote  for  Kentucky's  highest 
tribunal  the  language  of  law  with  such  clearness, 
force  and  elegance  as  to  command  the  respect  of 
Westminster  Hall,  within  whose  ancient  walls  his 
opinions  are  yet  cited  as  sound  principle  and  wise 
precedent.  They  parted  with  the  heirloom  and  start- 
ed for  Roan.  Ned  went  by  Mrs.  Morningstar's  and 
collected  three  dollars  and  fifty  cents  for  the  last 
washing  and  ironing.  In  the  hurry  Lexie  had  forgot 
the  dear  old  violin  and  ran  back  to '  get  it,  but  the 
landlord,  having  found  it  on  the  premises,  claimed  it 
under  distress  law  as  a  sort  of  rack  rent,  which 
amounts,  according  to  Blackstone,  to  the  value  of  the 
premises  rented.  In  this  instance  the  violin  was 
worth  more  than  the  cottage.  Fortunately,  however, 
the  landlord,  being  non-musical,  was  ignorant  of  the 
value  of  ^'old  fiddles."  He  said,  "I  hate  their  noise, 
and  you  may  take  it  along  for  a  dollar  or  two. "  Lexie 
had  one  dollar  and  eighty-five  cents.  Like  generous- 
born  people,  who  never  learn  the  cunning  which  be- 


238  .  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

longs  to  money-holding,  she  frankly  told  him  what 
she  had. 

"I  would,"  said  she,  pleadingly,  "give  you  a  hun- 
dred times  this  amount,  if  I  had  it,  for  my  dear,  dear 
old  violin!" 

"But  you  will  never  have  it.  You  can  take  the  old 
rattle-trap  for  the  dollar  and  eighty-five  cents." 

She  gave  him  the  money;  it  was  all  she  had.  He 
handed  her  the  old  violin,  trembling  then  to  speak  its 
silent  notes  of  woe  which  were  yet  to  move  the  hearts 
of  men  to  love  the  poor,  the  lowly  brave,  the  world- 
tired  victims  of  hard  circumstances. 

She  hugged  and  kissed  it,  and,  placing  it  in  its 
case,  fled  the  presence  of  the  landlord.  Rejoining 
Ned  and  Aunt  Bina,  the  journey  to  Roan  began.  It 
was  late  in  the  afternoon. 

She  said  to  her  despondent  aunt,  '  'We  can  do  no 
more  by  staying  in  Louisville  and  no  worse  by  leav- 
ing it,  and  may  recover  some  of  my  father's  property 
and  yet  have  a  shelter  from  the  storm." 

They  took  the  road  toward  Perryville,  walking 
slowly  along  until  nightfall.  They  called  at  a  farm- 
house which  Lexie  recognized.  She  said  to  the 
farmer,  "We  wish  to  stay  over  night." 

"Certainly;  come  in!"  was  the  prompt  response 
that  drowned  Lexie's  concluding  statement  that  they 
had  but  little  money  to  pay. 

He  was  a  well-to-do  farmer,  a  fair  type  of  Ken- 
tucky's best.  Ned  was  sent  to  the  kitchen  where 
slaves  once  inhabited.  Negroes  were  still  there, 
though  slavery  was  gone.     But  the  farmer  fed  them 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  239 

just  as  well  as  ever  and  they  seemed  to  work  better, 
the  vicious  having  gone  to  the  slums  of  the  city  or 
into  the  slavery  of  subordinate  politics.  Liberty  had 
done  the  sifting. 

Lexie  and  Aunt  Bina  were  seated  in  the  family 
room  until  a  chamber  could  be  prepared  to  receive 
them.  "Come,"  said  the  farmer's  wife,  "your  room 
is  ready." 

When  supper  was  announced,  Lexie  and  Aunt  Bina, 
refreshed,  descended  the  stairs,  and,  taking  seats  at 
the  table,  heard  this  odd  blessing,  "God  bless  every- 
thing and  everybody." 

The  farmer  was  not  a  talkative  man  and  his  wife 
was  sparing  with  her  words,  yet  they  always  said 
enough  and  at  the  right  time. 

During  the  meal  not  an  inquisitive  question  was 
asked,  nor  a  questioning  look  passed  between  the 
farmer  and  his  wife.  Embarrassment  was  banished 
by  discretion  and  courteous  attention  to  the  wants  of 
Lexie  and  Aunt  Bina. 

After  they  finished  eating,  the  farmer's  wife  said, 
"You  have  eaten  nothing  scarcely,  but  I  hope  you  are 
well  and  will  make  it  up  at  breakfast  after  a  good 
night's  sleep." 

"Thank  you,"  said  Lexie,  "we  have  had  a  delight- 
ful repast,  and  I  am  sure  we  can  sleep  soundly  under 
your  roof." 

'  'Indeed,  you  can  if  welcome  makes  sleep, "  said  the 
farmer. 

Lexie  and  Aunt  Bina  chorused,  "Thank  you,  sir!" 

When  the   farmer  placed   under   the   piano   their 


240  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

bundles,  that  appeared  to  belong  to  persons  once 
well-to-do  or  the  educated  poor,  he  had  'spied  the 
violin  case,  which,  by  his  wife's  direction,  Ned  had 
laid  on  the  piano. 

After  supper  when  conversation  began  to  flag  he 
asked,  "Who  is  it  plays  upon  your  instrument?  I 
should  like  to  hear  some  music?" 

"Yes,"  said  his  wife,  "Mr.  Mims  dearly  loves 
music.     Please  play  for  him." 

Lexie  arose.  He  handed  her  the  violin,  looking 
straight  and  searchingly  into  her  face,  but  did  not 
recognize  her.  He  apologized  for  looking  at  her  so, 
saying,  "I  really  thought  I  knew  you  or  had  seen  you 
somewhere." 

Lexie  avoided  agitating  his  memory  by  saying, 
"No  apology  is  necessary,  sir,"  and  immediately  be- 
gan tuning  the  violin. 

At  the  first  sweep  of  the  bow,  which  she  handled 
with  charming  grace  and  art,  Mr.  Mims  looked  at  his 
wife  with  a  beaming  smile  and  glittering  eye.  He 
was  a  lover  of  nature,  communed  with  the  music  of 
the  spheres  and  had  a  heart  for  joy.  He  once  said 
he  could  hear  music  in  the  fall  of  a  snow  flake.  Mel- 
odies suited  his  taste;  he  loved  his  home;  his  heart 
was  Southern  and  Southern  hearts  are  freighted  with 
impulse  and  emotion. 

"Home,  Sweet  Home,"  sobbed  from  the  old  violin, 
the  darkies  hurried  into  the  dining-room,  and,  softly 
pulling  the  door  ajar,  listened;  Aunt  Bina  covertly 
averted  her  face  to  the  wall;  the  wife  softly  sighed; 
Sam  Mims  was  melted;  that  noble  melody  reached 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  241 

his  heart,  as  it  does  all  true  hearts,  wherever  heard 
in  the  wide  world.  The  Swanee  River  was  ex- 
pressed with  great  power  and  beauty.  No  one  since 
has  been  able  to  play  it  as  she  could.  Under  her 
touch  it  was  a  revelation  of  the  heart's  emotions. 
She  then  played  the  best  tune  of  the  first  singer  on 
the  violin  that  ever  appeared,  and,  closing,  struck 
the  major  chord  of  that  great  song,  which,  in  his 
early  days,  for  love's  sake,  the  great  tone  poet  wrote. 

She  had  spoken  with  her  bow  directly  to  the  soul 
of  Sam  Mims  and  kindled  emotions  too  tender  to  dis- 
turb. She  quietly  put  the  old  violin  in  its  case,  and, 
by  that  common  movement  which  takes  place  with- 
out previous  arrangement  between  persons  affected 
by  refined  emotions  or  deep  distress,  they  silently  re- 
tired for  the  night. 

Next  morning  Sam  Mims  asked  which  way  they 
were  bound,  and,  upon  being  told,  directed  a  double 
team  of  blooded  bays  to  be  hitched  to  the  new  spring 
wagon  covered  with  shining  black  canvas,  and,  refus- 
ing to  listen  to  any  declining,  sent  them  to  Roan  in 
charge  of  his  son. 

To  the  latter  he  said,  '  'My  son  allow  them  to  pay 
no  bills.  Secretly  pay  those  with  whom  you  stay 
and  pretend  they  charged  nothing.  Do  all  you  can 
to  make  them  comfortable,  for  I  am  satisfied  this 
morning  that  she  is  the  same  girl  who  so  bravely 
came  to  our  house  and  got  me  to  furnish  a  horse  to 
that  fine  looking  wounded  soldier  to  get  away  on. 
You  remember  that  soldier." 

"Yes,  father,  his  name  was  Robert  Hope." 

16 


242  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

•t  That's  it.  I  got  a  letter  from  him  yesterday  say- 
ing he  was  back  from  Canada  by  way  of  Boston  and 
would  come  to  see  me  during  the  summer.  Now,  be 
careful  with  these  people,  they  a.re  certainly  in  great 
distress,  and  there  is  a  mystery  about  them  which  it 
would  be  impolite  to  pry  into." 

They  were  off.  In  that  sweet  month  of  May  they 
traveled  the  same  route  Sill's  division  took  to  Frank- 
fort in  October,  '62,  and  on  which  he  was  moving  the 
day  the  heroic  battle  of  Perry ville  was  fought.  On 
the  way  to  Roan  the  talk  was  light  and  commonplace. 
When  the  road  was  shady,  Lexie  played  at  intervals 
upon  the  old  violin  to  while  away  the  tedium  of  the 
trip.  Tom  Mims  was  surprised  at  her  increasing 
beauty,  which  grew  on  closer  acquaintance.  At  first 
her  features  appeared  a  bit  too  large,  because  she 
wore  her  hair  closely  plaited  or  smoothly  clinging  to* 
her  head.  But  when  she  unloosed  her  hair  and  it 
floated  freely  about  her  shapely  shoulders  and  the 
May  breezes  whispered  through  it.  Sir  Joshua  Rey- 
nolds himself  would  have  been  delighted  at  the  priv- 
ilege of  perpetuating  her  beauty. 

When  she  played  the  violin  Tom  noted  the  rosy 
flush  in  her  long,  tapering  fingers.  Though  her 
finely  formed  hand  was  browned — it  was  the  hand 
Joel  Hart  used  as  a  model  in  chiseling  the  wrist  and 
hand  which  lay  on  the  speaker's  desk  when  the  Leg- 
islature ordered  the  ashes  of  her  dead  sculptor  from 
sunny  Italy  back  to  his  native  State.  Those  ashes 
now  rest  near  the  grave  of  Sunny  Withers  in  the 
jshadow  of  the  baittle  monument.     Lexie  never  posed 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  243 

for  the  altogether,  yet  she  had  a  finer  form  than  Ada 
Rehan,  who  posed  for  the  silver  statue  that  every- 
body in  the  universe  saw  at  the  World's  Fair.  Her 
chin  had  the  smallest  cleft  in  it  permissible,  but 
when  she  laughed  it  got  larger  and  so  beautiful  that 
Tom  seemed  to  try  to  take  it  away  from  her  with  his 
eyes. 

Before  he  left  them  at  the  log  tavern  in  which 
"Colonel"  Patter  laid  off  the  battlefield  of  Bull  Run 
and  began  recruiting  for  "Dixie,"  Tom  took  Ned 
aside,  and,  swearing  him  to  secrecy,  gave  him  a 
twenty-dollar  gold  piece  and  said,  "If  ever  your 
young  mistress  needs  this,  give  it  to  her  and  tell  her 
you  found  it." 

Ned  promised  and  Tom  drove  away  at  such  a  fu- 
rious pace  that  people  stared  at  him  and  the  pretty 
bays  as  he  passed. 

"Her  eyes  had  the  longest,  silkiest  lashes  you  ever 
saw,"  said  he  to  his  mother  after  his  return,  ' 'and  she 
got  prettier  every  day.  Her  modest  reserve  and 
heaven-born  music  made  me  almost  crazy  to  ask  all 
about  her.  I  had  the  most  morbid  feeling  to  know 
her  that  ever  came  over  any  one." 

"My  son,  I  am  thinking  you  are  in  love,"  said  his 
mother. 

'  'If  I  am  I  don't  know  it,  but  if  I  always  feel  like  I 
do  now  about  her  I  am  certain  I'll  never  be  happy 
unless  I  learn  her  history.  She  was  so  interesting," 
said  he  in  his  frank,  boyish  way. 


XXIX. 

THE  next  morning  the  tavern  keeper  was  confi 
dentially  courteous  to  his  new  guests. 

"Where  are  you  from?"  inquired  the  host  of  "The 
War  Tavern,"  the  name  given  it  the  day  after  Lee 
surrendered.  He  addressed  himself  to  Aunt  Bina, 
who  was  wholly  incompetent  to  cope  with  his  long  ^ 
experience  in  extracting  from  strangers  their  private 
affairs.  1 

Aunt  Bina  responded,  "We  are  from  Louisville."      * 

"You  must  have  pressin'  business  to  bring  you  so 
fur  in  such  a  busy  season  of  the  year,"  said  he. 

Aunt  Bina  knew  not  what  to  say.  Lexie  answered, 
"Yes,  we  are  looking  after  some  business  iijiatters^ 
here  in  which  we  are  told  we  have  an  interest. " 

"What  kind  of  business  is  it?"  was  his  next  ques- 
tion. 

"I  can  not  tell  you  correctly,"  said  she,  "until  I  see 
Mr.  Wolf."  \ 

He  was  so  anxious  to  find  out  all  about  them  that! 
he  tendered  his  services  at  once  to  go  with  Lexie  | 
Hallen  to  see  'Squire  Wolf.  She  accepted  the  officious  | 
offer,  and,  leaving  Aunt  Bina  at  "The  War  Tavern, "| 
went  with  him,  Ned  trailing  along  after  fearing  some-| 
thing  might  happen  to  Miss  Lexie.     They  found  Fatal 

244  l 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  245 

Wolf  at  his  pension  ofSce  in  the  Hallen  house.  The 
tavern-keeper  essayed  to  introduce  her,  but  Fate 
Wolf,  breaking  through  all  precaution,  cried,  "Howdy, 
hunney !  I'm  turrible  glad  to  see  ye !  en  so'U  Scatlett 
be  when  she  sees  ye." 

The  tavern-keeper  looked  insistent,  even  amazed, 
but  Fate  Wolf,  his  cunning  reasserting  itself,  said  to 
him,  "This  little  gyrl  lives  down  yander  whur  we 
us'd  to  market  part  of  our  subter- shoots,  en  I  got 
powerful  well  'quainted  with  her'n  her  folks.  Now 
ef  yell  go  back  to  the  tavern  I'll  take  up  her  case 
right  now."  ^ 

This  threw  the  keeper  of  "The  War  Tavern"  clear 
off  the  trail  of  his  curiosity.  Thinking  it  was  a  pen- 
sion case,  he  said,  "When  you  git  her  papers  fixed, 
bring  her  over  to  dinner  and  eat  a  bite  yourself." 

Turning,  he  left  the  room. 

Fate  Wolf  told  her  all  he  could,  then  took  her  to 
the  County  Clerk  and  introduced  her,  saying,  "This 
little  gyrl  wants  to  know  somethin'  soever  you  mout 
know,  but  yit  I  can't  tell  her,"  and  withdrew,  having 
told  Lexie  to  "say  nothin'  to  nobody"  about  him  or 
what  he  was  doing  for  her. 

She  saw  the  delicacy  of  his  position  and  appre- 
ciated his  assertion  that  "I  alays  likes  to  see  wimmin 
righted  en  perfected." 

The  Clerk  did  not  like  Penn  Grabb4,  and,  as  soon 
as  she  told  him  that  she  was  the  only  child  of  Rich- 
ard Hallen,  he  said,  '  'I  know  all  about  it.  The  tax 
sale  was  irregular.  No  notice,  no  advertisement  of 
the  sale,  and  it  confers  no  title  on  Penn  Grabb6,  but 


lift 


246  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

you  will  have  to  pay  him  four  dollars  and  eighty 
cents,  the  interest  and  fifty  per  cent,  for  the  privilege 
of  redemption." 

'  'But, "  said  she,  '  'I  have  not  got  that  much  money. " 

"Lwill  lend  it  to  you,"  said  the  Clerk,  "and  you  can 
pay  me  back  out  of  the  rent  he  owes  you. " 

"That  is  very  kind  of  you,  sir,"  said  she. 

He  then  counted  up  the  interest,  cost  and  per 
centum  to  redeem  the  house  and  grounds. 

He  handed  her  the  money,  locked  his  office  and 
started  with  her  to  "The  War  Tavern,"  but,  seeing 
Penn  Grabb4  riding  in  from  his  canvass  for  Congress, 
said,  "I  had  better  go  back;  you  can  go  by  yourself 
to  the  tavern,"  and  abruptly  returned  to  his  office. 

Penn  Grabb^  uniformly  went  to  his  pension  office 
in  his  Hallen  house  first  before  mixing  with  the  peo- 
ple of  Roan.  On  this  occasion  Pate  Wolf  was  seri- 
ously glad  to  see  him,  and  told  him  impressively  of 
Lexie  Hallen's  presence  at  '  'The  War  Tavern"  with 
Ned  and  her  aunt  and  what  she  was  after,  but  affected 
not  to  know  the  exact  status  of  things. 

'  'But  I've  larned, "  said  he,  '  'that  Lexie  Hallen  is  the 
livin'  bein'  air  at  law  uv  Richard  Hallen.  I  know  it 
to  be  a  fac  uv  my  own  nollige,  en  sense  ye  left  I've 
hearn  that  your  title  haint  good  to  this  yer  house,  en 
ef  it  haint,  en  ye  try  to  keep  it  frum  that  little  gyrl, 
it'll  beat  ye  fur  Congruss  shore." 

"If  I  find  out,"  said  Penn  Grabb^,  "that  Lexie 
Hallen  is  entitled  to  this  house,  I  Vv^ill  be  the  first  man 
to  say  she  shall  have  it  on  equitable  terms. " 

Pajte  Wolf  said,   "We'd  better  go  to  the  Clark's 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  247 

office,  fur  they've  bean  there,  en  that  dimocrat  will 
tell  'em  all  about  the  title,  ef  it  be  defectious,  en  I've 
hearn  it's  too  strong  in  the  nose  uv  the  law." 

By  the  time  they  reached  the  Clerk's  office,  Penn 
Grabb^  had  several  workable  schemes  for  the  future 
mapped  out  in  his  strategic  brain. 

He  took  the  Clerk  aside,  but  found  him  cold  and  in- 
tractable. Seeing  that  nothing  could  be  expected 
from  that  quarter,  he  immediately  called  on  Lexie 
Hallen  and  her  aunt.  He  said,  "Miss  Lexie,  I  am 
more  than  glad  to  see  you,  and  Miss  Hallen,  your 
presence  makes  this  a  double  pleasure. " 

Thanking  him  for  his  icy  glee  over  seeing  them, 
they  relapsed  into  silence.  It  was  a  little  embarrass- 
ing, but  Penn  Grabb6  was  not  the  man  to  be  blocked 
by  embarrassment  or  the  delicacies  of  life,  so  he  re- 
newed the  interview  by  saying,  "When  did  you  leave 
Louisville?     How  is  Miss  Julia?" 

"She  is  dead,"  quiveringly  responded  Lexie. 

"O,  I  am  sorry  of  that,  indeed  I  am,"  said  he. 

Silence  again  settled  over  the  conversation.  The 
Clerk  walked  in  without  ceremony,  as  was  the  cus- 
tom of  most  persons  who  frequented  '  'The  War  Tav- 
ern." He  at  once  whirled  his  mental  hammer  at  the 
nail  head  of  the  situation  and  struck  it  squarely. 

"Mr.  Grabbe,"  said  he,  "you  are  wrongfully  in  pos- 
session of  this  young  woman's  house  and  ground,  and 
owe  her  back  rent  for  nearly  nine  years. " 

"Sir,"  rejoined  Grabb^,  "I  was  just  coming  to  that 
subject  when  you  interrupted  us.  I  shall  take  great 
pleasure  in  giving  an  account  of  my  stewardship  of 


248  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

the  Hallen  house  if  you  will  retire  and  allow  so  deli- 
cate a  subject  to  be  discussed  by  the  parties  inter- 
ested." 

"I'll  retire,  sir,"  said  the  Clerk,  "but  this  thing's 
got  to  be  done  to  a  finish  or  I'll  take  an  interest  in  it. " 

Being  a  candidate  for  Congress,  Grabbe  had  his 
best  manners  to  the  front  and  amicably  said  to  the 
Clerk.  '  'As  soon  as  she  and  I  talk  it  over,  we  will 
gladly  call  you  in  to  see  that  everything  is  done  pre- 
cisely right — there  is  no  man  I  had  rather  trust." 

"Thank  you,''  said  the  Clerk,  who  walked  out,  feel- 
ing that  one  cubit  had  been  added  to  his  height  by 
this  consummate  manager  of  ordinary  men;  this 
schemer  on  the  ground  floor  of  humanity;  this  coun- 
terfeit Tallyrand. 

"Now,  Miss  Lexie,  I  will  speak  of  the  business  re- 
fei'red  to  by  the  Clerk  for  fear  we  maybe  interrupted 
again  by  some  intruder.  You  know  I  have  been  the 
friend  of  your  family  through  thick  and  thin,  and  that 
my  pocket  is  two  thousand  dollars  lighter  by  getting 
your  sentence  changed.  You  may  yet  trust  to  my 
generosity  and  faithfulness.  The  rent  is  worth  a  good 
deal,  say  fifty  dollars  per  year  for  nine  years,  and  I 
have  improved  the  property  at  a  cost  of  more  than  the 
rent.  You  or  your  aunt,  your  other  aunt  being  dead 
and  unable  to  pay  anything,  owe  me  two  thousand 
dollars  by  note.  I  need  not  go  further  to  show  the 
sacrifice  I  am  about  to  make.  Then,  in  short,  you 
may  redeem  by  paying  the  tax,  interest  and  per  cen- 
tum, and  I  will  give  you  half  the  rent  and  all  the  note 
for  one  moiety  of  the  property. " 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY  249 

Lexie  and  Aunt  Bina.being  moneyless  women,  un- 
informed as  to  the  value  of  the  house  and  grounds, 
and  fearful  that  the  note  and  its  history  might  be- 
come public,  and  also  anxious  to  relieve  themselves 
from  its  overhanging  power,  agreed  to  the  terms. 
The  Clerk  was  called  in,  the  terms  were  explained  to 
him  and  he  said  at  once  that  two  thousand  dollars 
was  not  a  sacrificing  price  for  one-half,  counting  the 
improvements  at  only  two  hundred  and  twenty-five 
dollars,  but  said  the  rent  was  rather  low. 

Lexie  said,  "We  have  given  our  word  to  the  terms 
and  prefer  not  to  break  it. " 

The  house  was  redeemed.  Penn  Grabbe  paid 
Lexie  two  hundred  and  twenty-five  dollars  and  hand- 
ed to  Aunt  Bina  the  note,  which  was  based  on  no  con- 
sideration, but  extortion,  made  possible  by  Jerry 
Burr's  brutal  reign  over  the  fair  soil  of  the  first 
daughter  of  the  Union.  It  is  said,  while  he  ruled, 
robbed  and  massacred  her  people,  the  sun  never 
shone  bright  in  the  old  Kentucky  homes,  but  rose  in 
clouds  and  sank  in  smoke  and  fire.  The  dawn  of 
peace,  however,  swept  away  the  clouds  and  the  de- 
scending sun  of  righteousness  set  the  western  hori- 
zon in  a  blaze  of  glory,  and  Jerry  Burr,  gnashing  his 
teeth,  disappeared  in  the  gloom  of  his  own  dark  con- 
science never  to  return  again. 

The  Clerk  prepared  cross-deeds  and  Penn  Grabbe 
signed  one  and  Lexie  H alien  started  to  sign  the  other 
when  a  question  arose  as  to  her  age.  She  was  in 
her  nineteenth  year.  Penn  Grabbe  promptly  inter- 
posed, saying,   "I  know  Miss  Lexie  and  her  word  is 


250  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

as  good  as  her  bond.  I  am  willing  to  take  her  deed, 
for  she  will  ratify  it  when  she  becomes  of  age." 

"I  certainly  will,"  said  she. 

Both  deeds  were  duly  acknowledged  and  recorded.. 
Thus  Penn  Grabb^  and  Lexie  Hallen  becaime  joint 
tenants  of  her  father's  house.  He  insisted  that  she 
and  her  aunt  should  at  once  take  possession,  except 
of  the  office  reserved  for  himself  and  Fate  Wolf. 
This  was  done.  With  Ned's  assistance,  Lexie  and 
Aunt  Bina  soon  had  the  premises  in  order  and  by  an 
outlay  of  a  few  dollars  they  went  to  housekeeping 
with  lighter  hearts  than  had  beat  in  their  bosoms 
since  the  war  closed. 

The  season  for  gardening  had  begun  and  Lexie  im- 
provised a  sun  bonnet,  Ned  borrowed  a  hoe  and  a 
shovel  from  the  keeper  of  "The  War  Tavern"  and 
Aunt  Bina  filled  her  apron  with  garden  seeds,  and 
they  all  sallied  forth  into  the  balmy  air,  into  the  sun- 
shine and  liberty  of  labor  to  exercise  the  great  geo- 
ponic  art.  They  meant  to  make  a  living  by  the  sweat 
of  the  face  and  be  happy  in  toil,  as  toiling  millions 
are. 

Up  rode  "Colonel"  Patter  and  talked  to  them  while 
Long-Leaper  poked  his  nose  over  the  fence  and 
nipped  at  the  red  rosebuds.  This  was  surprising. 
The  "Colonel"  had  on  good  clothes.  His  hat  was  a 
big  new  felt  and  he  appeared  more  like  the  ante  helium 
orator  than  he  had  since  the  Fourth  of  July,  1861. 
He  seemed  to  be  genial,  was  rather  pale  and  acted  as 
if  possessed  of  a  burden  which  he  wanted  to  unload. 
He  begged  a  word  with  the  young  lady  whom  he  rec- 
ognized directly  he  reached  the  fence. 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  251 

"Well,  what  is  it?"  said  she,  not  recognizing  him. 

"Madam,  I  heard  you  were  here,  and,  knowing 
some  of  the  dangers  to  life  and  honor  in  this  region, 
I  concluded  to  warn  you  to  be  careful,  bar  your  doors 
of  nights  and  send  for  me  if  you  get  in  trouble. " 

He  immediately  rose  to  a  heroic  position  and  quick- 
ly rode  away,  giving  her  no  time  to  recover  from  the 
immensity  of  the  surprise.  This  was  dramatic,  as 
"Colonel"  Patter  always  liked  to  be,  but,  before  he 
was  out  of  sight,  she  called  him  to  mind  and  regret- 
ted her  apparent  indifference. 

Every  day  Penn  Grabbe  interested  himself  in  their 
welfare,  until  his  visits  and  advice  became  tiresome. 
She  remembered  his  actions  in  taking  her  to  Fate 
Wolf's  home  in  the  jaws  of  adamant,  but  credulously 
thought  it  might  have  been  intended  for  the  best,  as 
Fate  and  Mrs.  Wolf  showed  no  signs  of  being  in  con- 
spiracy with  him,  and  now  that  circumstances  had 
brought  them  into  daily  contact,  she  determined  to 
dispel  all  suspicions  and  treat  Penn  Grabbe  kindly 
for  gratitude's  sake,  believing,  as  she  did,  that  he 
had  saved  her  from  the  Dry  Tortugas  at  great  risk 
and  expense. 

His  race  for  Congress  was  growing  warm,  and 
whenever  he  was  not  out  canvassing  he  was  explain- 
ing to  Lexie  that  he  would  be  elected,  had  been  her 
friend,  was  rich  for  the  region  and  she  ought  to 
marry  him  as  a  matter  of  principle.  In  fact,  he  said 
she  owed  that  much  to  him.  His  love  was  of  the 
mind  and  of  the  passions,  but  not  of  the  heart,  so  he 
urged  his  suit  from  the  standpoint  that  all  are  gov- 


252  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

erned  by  interests,  by  treasures  which  moth  doth 
corrupt  and  thieves  break  through  and  steal.  He 
knew  that  some  are  moved  by  the  oppression  of  an 
obligation  to  discharge  it.  But  to  all  of  his  over- 
tures she  firmly  said  no,  at  the  same  time  expressing 
her  gratitude  for  his  past  friendly  acts  in  her  behalf. 
Finally  he  came  to  believe  that  she  was  grateful 
enough  to  submit  to  be  his  wife  if  he  could  get  her 
into  his  power  and  compromise  her  honor  if  she  re- 
fused. The  thought  was  at  once  materialized  by  his 
brain  into  a  scheme,  but  election  demands  averted 
his  attention  for  a  time  and  pension  frauds  were 
hinted  at  by  his  opponents  in  such  manner  as  re- 
quired his  pension  performances  to  be  looked  after 
and  guarded  immediately.  Fate  Wolf  had  kept  an 
eye  on  his  maneuvers  and  made  it  a  point  to  go  into 
the  family  room,  which  was  across  the  hall  from  his 
office,  and  talk  to  Aunt  Bina  and  Lexie  every  day. 

In  these  conversations  he  disclosed  more  doubt  of 
Penn  Grabbe  than  he  was  aware  of,  and  in  his  con- 
stant reference  to  the  law  of  pensions  let  drop  many 
a  remark  that  might  have  led  to  unpleasant  discov- 
eries had  the  listeners  been  detectives.  As  it  was, 
he  passed  with  them  for  an  uneducated  sage  in  that 
particular  law.  He  gathered  some  scraps  of  fact  and 
knowledge  between  times  that  laid  the  foundation  for 
future  guessing  and  doubting  and  hedging  on  his 
part  when  Grabb^  got  too  mysterious  to  suit  him. 

The  Hallens  planted  and  cultivated  their  garden 
like  experienced  horticulturists,  and  its  beauty  in 
midsummer  was  remarked  by  all  the  town  which  had 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  253 

at  one  time  or  another  been  attracted  to  the  house  by 
Lexie's  exquisite  violin  playing.  Everybody  that 
came  in  would  ask  her  to  play.  People  of  Roan 
never  ceased  begging  her  to  play,  and  she  seemed 
never  to  tire  of  pleasing  them.  They  usually  listened 
in  stolid  earnestness,  complimenting  the  perform- 
ance with  strong  but  unwordy  exclamations.  Soon 
she  became  the  favorite  of  everybody. 

Penn  Grabbe  was  beaten  for  Congress  by  the  Hon- 
orable Pat  Riot,  who  could  excel  him  in  anecdotes, 
platitudes  and  pension  promises.  Thenceforward 
Penn  Grabbe  gave  up  office  seeking  and  devoted  him- 
self to  pension  practice  and  to  the  one  supreme  pas- 
sion of  his  mind  and  flesh. 


XXX. 

THE  morning  after  all  the  returns  for  Congress 
were  in,  and  no  hope  for  Penn  Grabbe's  election 
remained,  he  sat  at  his  office  table  talking  to  Fate 
Wolf,  who  was  standing  in  the  middle  of  the  floor 
listening.  The  latter  was  cunningly  amazed  at 
Grabbe's  veiled  suggestions. 

'  'Whatsumever  do  ye  want  me  to  do  with  the  lit- 
tle gyrl,  ef  I  hides  her  at  the  Rocky  Gorge?" 

'  'Why,  'Squire,  I'd  like  for  you  to  keep  her  there 
until  I  marry  her.  She  is  willing,  but  does  not  want 
to  say  so,  because  her  aunt  is  so  opposed  to  me." 

"Must  I  ax  her  ef  she  art  willin'?" 

'  'No,  no,  not  for  a  patriot's  pension,  for  she  would 
say  no,  and  the  fun  of  carrying  her  off  in  the  night 
would  be  spoiled.  You  must  not  disarrange  our 
plans,  and  I'll  give  you  a  thousand  dollars  in  gold  the 
day  after  the  marriage  and  take  you  in  as  a  full  pen- 
sion partner. " 

Fate  Wolf's  cupidity  rose  in  the  plentitude  of  its 
power  and  for  the  time  being  slew  the  good  purposes 
which  always  began  to  form  themselves  out  of  his 
better  impulses  when  woman's  honor  appeared  to  be 
in  jeopardy.  He  wanted  the  money;  he  wanted  the 
notoriety  of  the  partnership;  he  wanted  half  of  the 

254 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  255 

pension  profits,  which  had  begun  to  be  enormous  to 
men  like  he,  but  fear  of  injuring  Lexie  and  treachery 
on  the  part  of  Grabb6  held  his  consent  in  abeyance, 
but  only  for  a  short  time — then  he  agreed  with  the 
stronger  will,  supported  as  it  was  by  the  root  of  all 
evil. 

Before  the  complicated  scheme  could  be  filtered 
into  Fate  Wolf's  cunning  but  cumbersome  intellect, 
Lyt  Wardrip,  who  was  teaching  school  at  the  mouth 
of  Tippling  Fork,  dropped  in  to  employ  Penn  Grabbe 
to  obtain  a  jjension  for  him.  The  three  at  once  en- 
tered into  a  discussion  of  the  subject  of  pensions. 

Wardrip  said,  "The  farmers  who  pay  taxes  are  the 
stingiest  taxpayers  in  the  nation, " 

"I  believe  they  are,"  said  Grabb6. 

"Yes,"  said  Wardrip,  "they're  always  grumbling 
about  taxes  for  pensions.  They  forget  that  the  Union 
soldiers  won  the  war  and  saved  every  bit  of  property 
North  from  confiscation  by  the  rebels.  By  rights  our 
soldiers  are  entitled  to  at  least  one-half  of  all  the 
farms,  well  stocked  at  that,  north  of  Mason  and 
Dixon's  line." 

'  'Howmuchsomever  air  they  uv  rights  to  south  uv 
that  thair  line?" 

"All  of  everything,"  promptly  responded  Wardrip 
to  Wolf. 

'  'The  people  air  turrible  tired  uv  taxes,  en  ef  an- 
1  uther  way  to  git  pensions  outen  uv  'em  wuz  blazed 
(out  it  would  be  a  site  better  fur  the  'Publican  party," 
J  said  Wolf. 

"But  there  is  no  other  way,"  cried  Wardrip,   "and 


256  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

they'll  just  have  to  stand  it.  Taxing  the  people  is  a 
slow,  good,  easy  way  of  dividing  the  property  North 
with  our  soldiers  and  their  blood  and  married  kin, 
who  are  nearer  to  them  than  hayseed  taxpayers,  mer- 
chants, bankers,  bar-keepers  and  other  dressy  do- 
nothing  classes  of  society.  In  course  of  time,  by 
taxes  heaped  on  a  little  more  and  more  every  year  or 
two  by  Congress,  a  fair  divide  between  the  soldiers 
and  the  fat  farmers  can  be  made  and  the  farmers 
won't  feel  it  so  mighty  much.  Why,  what  would  two 
hundred  million  dollars  a  year  be  divided  up  amongst 
the  long- tailed  kin  of  the  Union  soldiers?  Grant  was 
talking  through  his  hat  when  he  said  twenty-five 
million  dollars  a  year  would  be  enough !  Then  look 
at  the  soldiers  who  will  get  disabled  by  being  sick  a 
quarter  of  a  century  after  the  war,  and  some  of  them 
will  get  disabled  by  sickness  if  they  live  to  be  a  hun- 
dred. It's  true,  not  many,  for  the  number  we  had  in. 
the  field,  were  killed  or  wounded  or  disabled  in  battle, 
and  there's  not  a  very  great  many  widows  and  or-, 
phans  left  by  them.  But  would  you  let  their  blood 
kin  suffer?  or  their  wife's  people  work  themselves  to 
death?  Now  I  don't,  and  most  of  the  pensioners  on 
Tippling  Fork  don't  (and  I  think  I  can  speak  for  the 
majority)  want  our  half  of  this  country  collected  in 
any  one  year." 

"Go  right  on  in  your  remarks,  they  are  good  and 
to  the  point,"  encouragingly  said  Grabb6. 

"Well,"  said  Wardrip,  "there's  another  thing  that's 
wrong  in  this  free  country.  Congressmen  from  the 
farming  districts  are  too  strict  in  making  pension 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  257 

laws.  It's  got  so  a  man  can  hardly  be  honest  and  get 
a  pension,  although  Congress  intends  everybody  to 
have  one.  To  get  their  rights,  I  am  satisfied  one- 
half,  if  not  more,  of  the  people  on  Tippling  Fork,  and 
it's  over  ninety  miles  long,  have  committed  what  I 
call  white  perjury  for  themselves  or  the  pension  at- 
torneys who  can't  practice  half  their  claims  through 
without  it. " 

"Thet's  jist  so  to  my  own  noUidge  en  'sperience  in 
takin'  uv  affidavys,"  blurted  out  Fate  Wolf  without 
due  consideration. 

Penn  Grabb6  bridled  up  and  sought  to  divert  the 
conversation.  Wardrip  said,  "I  want  to  say  one 
more  thing  and  I'll  quit.  If  I  had  the  power,  I  would 
make  the  taxpayers,  for  they  have  all  the  property, 
support  every  Union  soldier  until  he  dies,  and  feed 
and  clothe  his  descendants,  his  wife's  kin,  and  his 
blood  kin  to  the  third  and  fourth  generations." 

"Mr.  Wardrip,"  said  Grabbe,  "you  are  the  first 
broad- gauged  patriot  I  have  heard  talk  since  the 
war." 

"He  soots  me,"  said  Pate  Wolf. 

"Now  state  the  facts  in  your  own  case, "  cried  Penn 
Grabbe  dramatically.  "I  know  they  will  be  true,  for 
truth  and  justice  grow  in  the  rarefied  air  of  the 
mountain  tops  of  pension  patriotism,  while  stingi- 
ness and  demagoguery  flourish  in  the  rich,  fat  soil 
of  the  dead-level  plains  of  farming  politics." 

After  this  lofty  speech,  Wardrip,  who  had  already 
gorged  his  moral  nature  with  a  great  lie,  allowed 
Grabb6  to  strike  every  tendency  to  truth  left  in  him 


258  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

prostrate  at  the  foot  of  the  bad  eminence  of  thrifty 
falsehood  which  Grabb6  himself  had  raised  upon  his 
own  sandy  foundations  for  the  wind  and  rain  of  life 
to  beat  against.  It  took  the  latter  but  a  few  mo- 
ments to  discover  Wardrip  was  not  as  blind  as  he 
looked.  The  virus  which  had  slightly  shrivelled 
the  first  tunic  of  his  eyes  had  spared  the  fine  elastic 
membrane  of  the  cornea,  leaving  its  perfect  trans- 
parency as  God  had  made  it,  but  it  had  made  havoc 
of  his  eye-lashes,  not  one  of  which  was  left,  and 
reddened  the  lids  until  Wardrip  could  plausibly  play 
blind  for  a  pension,  were  a  miracle  performed  to  make 
him  see. 

He  claimed,  in  his  declaration,  that  he,  like  old 
Gobbo  in  the  Merchant  of  Venice,  was  sand  blind, 
gravel  blind  from  marching  through  the  burning 
sands  of  Georgia,  but  the  truth  was  that  the  virus 
which  injured  his  eyes  came  from  disease  contracted 
long  after  the  war  was  over. 

Grabb^  dated  back  Wardrip's  blindness,  and  old  Jo 
Soaks,  who  subsequently  drew  a  dependent  pension, 
made  affidavit  that  it  resulted  from  the  effects  of  the 
sands  of  Georgia,  which  were  blinding  bright,  during 
Sherman's  march  to  the  sea — from  sun  by  day  and  in- 
cendiary fires  by  night.  Jo  Soaks  refused  to  sign  his 
affidavit  until  he  added,  "I  don't  believe  thar's  a 
sound-eyed  man  in  Sherman's  army  left,  en  they  ort 
to  git  pensions  while  they  kin  see,  en  not  wait  tell 
they  git  too  blind  to  git  up  their  pension  papers. " 

Lyt  Wardrip  was  promptly  granted  a  pension, 
which,  with  arrears  and  increases  to  the  present  date. 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  259 

has  yielded  him  twenty  thousand,  eight  hundred  and 
fifty-four  dollars,  yet  he  remains  among  the  discon- 
tented! 

Wardrip's  success  caused  applications  to  increase 
amazingly,  and  for  the  whole  of  the  ensuing  year 
Grabb^  had  but  little  time  to  press  his  claims  to  the 
hand  of  Lexie,  Cupidity  was  a  greater  passion  than 
love  with  Grabb6,  hence  "business  before  pleasure" 
was  his  favorite  motto.  One  day  when  pension  com- 
plications were  becoming  uncontrollable  and  danger- 
ous, he  crossed  the  hall,  determined  to  make  his  final 
appeal  to  Lexie  for  her  hand.  Fate  Wolf  sat  at  the 
afiidavit  table,  as  usual,  and,  while  Grabbe  was  en- 
gaged in  the  forlorn  effort  to  corrupt  a  pure  heart 
and  deceive  an  honest  mind,  Fate  Hicks,  of  color, 
made  his  appearance  and  demanded  a  pension.  This 
was  the  free  negro  bo}^  whom  '  'Fate"  Wolf  kidnaped 
before  the  war  and  was  trying  to  sell  as  a  slave  in 
Lexington,  when  Colonel  Jack  May  had  him  arrested 
and  the  boy  released. 

"Well,  well,  this  beats  ennything  ever  I  seed," 
cried  'Squire  Wolf.  "Afore  the  war  I  warn't  posted 
ag'in  sellin'  free  niggers,  but  hev  larned  sense,  en  I'll 
make  up  fur  that  thar  onjestice  by  gittin'  you  a  pen- 
sion; a  onjestice  what  give  me  a  stickin'  nickname 
what  sticks  yit." 

Fate  Hicks  stood  stolid  and  speechless  as  he  recog- 
nized this  war  abolitionist  and  heard  the  change  of 
mind  which  had  been  wrought  in  him  by  the  struggle 
for  the  Union. 

"Whatsumever  air  yer  grounds  fur  a  pension?" 


260  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

"Well,"  said  Fate  Hicks,  "I  wus  took  up  fur  a 
wag'ner  en  sarved  two  year,  en  quit  in  '63." 

"That'll  do,"  said  'Squire  Wolf.  "Wus  ye  injoored 
by  the  weather  ur  sculped  by  the  rebels,  ary  one?" 

"I  got  frost  bit,  but  hit  wur  arfter  the  war," 

'  'Never  you  mind  days  nur  dates.  I'll  bet  that  thar 
frost  fell  endurin'  uv  the  war,  en  Penn  Grabbe  kin 
git  a  pension  on  it  ez  easy  ez  slippin'  eend  foomust 
off  a  slick  rock  into  the  river  when  a  feller  is  asleep  a 
fishin'." 

Penn  Grabb6  came  in  looking  disconcerted,  but  im- 
mediately, and  adroitly  prepared  the  papers  of  Fate 
Hicks. 

Before  many  moons  'Squire  Wolf's  prediction  was 
fulfilled.  The  way  this  claim  upon  the  bounty  of 
Government  came  about  was  very  natural.  Fate 
Hicks,  having  drunk  too  much  at  a  political  speak- 
ing, was  unable  to  get  home,  and  from  necessity 
slept  in  a  fodder  shock.  The  night  was  bitter  cold, 
and  the  toes  of  his  left  foot,  which  got  from  under 
the  fodder  during  the  latter  part  of  the  night,  were 
unfortunately  frozen  off.  The  sole  cause  of  his 
drinking  too  much  on  that  occasion  resulted  from 
over-excitement  growing  out  of  his  support  of  the 
Government  side  of  the  debate.  The  legal  effect  of 
all  these  facts  and  the  danger  he  had  faced  while 
battling  for  the  Government  were  deftly  jointed  into 
his  pension  papers,  consequently  he  is  not  a  charge 
upon  the  people  of  Branch  County.  The  Govern- 
ment being  better  able  to  support  him  than  the  peo- 
ple ot  that  county,  it  is  thought,  by  its  best  casuists^ 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  261 

his  pension  was  worthily  bestowed,  since  it  had  many 
precedents  in  the  practice  of  Penn  Grabbe  to  sup- 
port it. 

Following  the  case  of  Fate  Hicks,  there  was  placed 
in  Grabb^'s  hands  another  claim  which  required  his 
best  skill.  At  the  battle  of  Richmond,  previously  de- 
scribed in  this  history,  Dan  Battle  was  slain.  This 
fact  appeared  on  the  army  rolls  and  his  comrades  re- 
ported that  he  was  buried  on  the  battlefield.  His 
name,  however,  was  mispelled  on  the  rolls,  for  there 
it  was  plainly  Bottle. 

Grabb^  discovered  the  error  and  at  once  sent  for 
Dan  Bottle,  who  lived  on  Tippling  Fork,  five  miles 
below  the  mouth  of  Drinkard's  Creek.  This  Dan 
Bottle  had  never  been  in  the  army,  but,  after  staying 
about  Grabb^'s  office  several  days  and  receiving  in- 
structions, he  returned  to  his  home  and  separated 
from  his  wife,  Miranda,  taking  up  his  residence  on 
Drinkard's  Creek. 

Thereafter  he  began  to  be  called  Danby  Bottle  and 
frequently  told  his  neighbors  that  his  twin  brother, 
Dan  Bottle,  had  been  killed  at  Richmond,  and  that  he 
had  been  compelled,  from  his  i^otions  of  duty,  to  re- 
main with  his  brother's  widow  and  children  to  take 
care  of  them  until  the  children  got  large  enough  to 
help  their  mother. 

This  story  was  believed,  and  Danby  Bottle's  disin- 
terestedness was  the  talk  of  the  creek  from  its  mouth 
to  its  head. 

In  due  season  Grabb6  sent  for  Miranda  Bottle,  and 
she  signed  and  swore  to  a  declaration  for  a  pension  as 


262  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

the  widow  of  Dan  Bottle,  alias  Dan  Battle,  killed  in  the 
battle  of  Richmond.  The  affidavits  were  precisely  in 
accord  with  the  army  rolls,  and  Miranda  Bottle  re- 
ceived a  pension  without  let,  hindrance  or  hitch  in 
the  proceedings.  Her  six  minor  children  were  also 
placed  on  the  pension  rolls,  and  the  family  were  after- 
wards spoken  of  by  all  the  neighbors  as  '  'a  mighty 
well-to-do  family. " 

Danby  Bottle  was  very  attentive  to  the  widow  and 
orphans  of  his  supposititious  twin  brother,  visiting 
them  almost  daily  and  receiving  from  his  neighbors 
Scriptural  plaudits  for  his  visits  to  the  widow  and  the 
orphan,  and  for  keeping  himself  unspotted  from  the 
world. 

For  a  quarter  of  a  century  after  the  close  of  Penn 
Grabbe's  usefulness,  as  shown  in  the  following  chap- 
ter, the  widow  regularly  drew  her  pension,  and  on 
every  Fourth  of  July  made  her  children  celebrate. 

Many  years  had  elapsed  when  a  man  calling  him- 
self Dan  Battle,  who  was  reported  killed  in  the  battle 
of  Richmond,  mysteriously  appeared  in  the  streets  of 
Roan,  and,  after  a  few  days,  became,  by  accident, 
acquainted  with  the  pension  attorney  who  had  suc- 
ceeded to  Penn  Grabb6's  practice  and  methods. 
After  a  brief  consultation,  the  attorney  announced 
the  joyful  news  in  Roan  that  the  husband  of  the 
widow  Miranda  Bottle  had  turned  n-p  at  last.  A 
meeting  was  arranged  to  take  place  between  them, 
and  a  number  of  citizen  pensioners  went  along  to  wit- 
ness the  joyful  reunion.     The  pension  attorney  went 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  263 

ahead,  however,  to  break  the  news  to  her,  which  he 
did  with  professional  caution. 

When  the  party  appeared  she  was  agitated,  but  the 
moment  she  laid  her  eyes  upon  him,  who  had  been 
given  up  as  dead,  she  recognized  her  long  lost  hus- 
band and  declared  that  she  would  cease  to  draw  a 
pension  as  his  widow,  and  the  department  was  so  no- 
tified. 

He  gave  an  excellent  account  of  his  absence  and 
why  he  had  roamed  over  the  Northwest  ever  since 
the  war  closed,  showing  war  wounds  that  he  had  re 
ceived  by  accident  in  a  saw  mill.  The  widow  vehe- 
mently supported  his  pretensions,  but  her  eldest 
daughter  repudiated  him;  the  sobriquet,  "Battle,"  he 
said,  was  won  by  his  gallantry,  and  the  war  depart- 
ment made  a  note  of  it  on  the  rolls.  Our  generous 
Government  granted  him  a  pension  with  back  pay, 
amounting  to  nineteen  thousand  two  hundred  and 
eighty  dollars.  This  sum  was  equally  divided  be- 
tween them,  and  Dan  Bottle,  alias  Battle,  disappeared 
shortly,  without  rhyme  or  reason,  never  to  return. 
The  widow  mourned  for  twelve  months  the  wayward- 
ness of  her  husband  and  then  applied  for  a  divorce, 
which  was  granted  on  the  statutory  ground  of  aban- 
donment for  one  year.  The  course  of  the  Jlidge  who 
granted  the  divorce  was  generally  approved  by  the 
people  on  Tippling  Fork. 

During  all  these  years  and  the  happening  of  these 
multiplied  events,  Danby  Bottle  had  dropped  from 
public  notice  and  was  regarded  by  his   immediate 


264  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

neighbors  as  a  bachelor  hermit,  but,  when  Miranda 
Bottle  lost  her  husband  the  second  time  he  took  a 
different  view  of  his  duty  as  a  twin  brother,  and,  in 
spite  of  the  doctrine  preached  by  the  hardshell  Bap- 
tist on  Tippling  Fork,  he  married  his  brother's 
widow  and  restored  the  statu  quo  which  Uncle  Sam 
still  maintains. 


XXXI. 

WITH  Lexie  the  summer,  fall  and  winter  had 
flown  on  leaden  wings,  for  she  had  submitted 
from  generosity*  for  supposed  favors  to  the  most  re- 
pulsive suit  ever  invented  by  a  scheming  mind.  She 
was,  indeed,  unhappy,  but  fortunately  her  misery 
found  expression  in  the  music  of  her  dear  violin. 
She  invoked  the  genius  of  harmony  and  it  broke 
forth  at  last  from  misfortune  and  loneliness  which  so 
often  give  birth  to  the  purest  emotions  and  loftiest 
aspirations.  She  would  often  stroll  away  into  the 
ivy- grown  grottoes  of  the  woods  and  play  to  the  wild 
streams,  whose  gentle  undertones  accompanied  her 
violin  in  a  new  song — a  song  of  the  winds  and  woods 
and  waters.  She  climbed  to  the  mountain  tops  and 
with  the  breezes  in  the  pines  blended  the  deep  tones 
of  her  noble  instrument.  The  echoes  of  the  rocks 
gave  back  the  sighs  of  her  soft-breathing  cremona, 
and  nature,  in  unison  with  art,  disclosed  new  harmo- 
nies not  understood  before  in  the  history  of  music. 
She  felt  a  new-born  power,  and,  seeking  to  evoke  its 
mystery,  learned  that  the  music  of  nature  held  mys- 
teries and  pathos  yet  undiscovered.  She  disclosed 
her  secret  to  Aunt  Bina  and  played  with  such  spirit- 
flowing  harmony  that  the  latter's  heart  was  filled 

265 


266  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

with  superstition  at  the  phenomena.  She  had  never 
before  heard  the  music  of  the  waters,  the  breezes 
and  the  echoes  flow  from  the  heart  of  the  violin. 
Feminine  art  and  masculine  nature  had  produced  a 
"beautiful  new  birth  of  music  and  of  song.  New 
strains  which  seemed  old  and  an  old  touch  that  was 
new  were  born  of  Lexie's  misery,  and,  unfortunately 
for  artists  of  the  mystic  power  of  sound,  died  with 
her  life. 

Old  men  and  even  outlaws,  who  yet  live  in  Branch 
county,  talk  of  her  music  with  tears  in  their  voices 
and  tell  how  she  stole  it  from  the  spirits  of  the  hills, 
from  the  rocks  and  streams  while  wandering  in  "The 
woods  of  Roan. " 

Lexie's  first  year  in  Roan  was  pitilessly  dreary. 
She  was  in  constant  fear  from  the  heavy-booted 
claimants  who  noisily  trod  through  the  hall  into 
Grabb^'s  pension  office  or  came  into  her  room  to  light 
their  pipes  or  ask  for  a  tune.  Loud  talk,  intermin- 
gled with  curses,  often  reached  her  ears,  and  "Col- 
onel" Patter's  warning  kept  her  uneasy  and  alarmed 
at  night.  In  his  last  interview,  Lexie  discovered 
Grabbe  was  an  uneasy  man  and  his  so-called  wooing 
more  like  a  menace  than  anything  else.  When  he 
left  her  she  told  her  aunt  of  the  change  in  his  man- 
ner and  stated  she  believed  "Colonel"  Patter's  warn- 
ing had  reference  to  him.  Their  uneasiness  that 
evening  was  painful,  but  it  became  torture  when 
nightfall  darkened  the  town. 

A  heavy  mist  filled  the  valley  and  the  great  fog- 
enveloped  mountains  to  the  eastward  looked  threat- 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  267 

eningly  mysterious.  The  doors  were  barred  and 
Ned  lay  on  his  pallet  of  fresh  straw  by  the  outer 
door  with  his  axe  near  at  hand.  At  midnight  he 
dreamed  the  window  was  hoisting  and  glaring  eyes 
from  the  dark  outside  were  looking  in  upon  him. 
He  turned  over,  and,  rising  from  his  humble  pillow, 
said,  "Who's  dar?"  No  answer  came,  and,  falling 
back  upon  his  bed,  he  went  to  sleep  again.  Once 
more  the  apparition  of  mischief  haunted  him.  He 
dreamt  that  he  went  to  Miss  Lexie's  room  and  found 
her  dead.  He  sprang  to  his  feet  just  as  the  bar  to 
the  door  gave  way  from  the  heavy  pressure  of  the 
heavy  shoulders  of  three  men  who  stood  in  black 
masks  before  him. 

In  an  instant  the  axe  was  swung  by  Ned,  with  the 
courage  of  Richard  Coeur  de  Lion,  and  one  of  the 
three  fell  backward  from  tlie  door.  Before  he  could 
recover  the  axe  for  another  blow,  the  quick  flash  of 
a  knife  and  a  pistol  ball  struck  his  faithful  bosom  and 
he  fell  to  the  floor. 

His  blood  gushed  from  his  wounds  and  through 
his  mouth;  his  convulsed  lips  could  not  cry  out;  he 
struggled  for  a  moment;  drew  up  his  feet  as  if  trying 
to  rise,  but  a  quiver  of  his  poor  frame  followed  and 
Ned  was  no  morel  His  honest,  brave  heart  had 
ceased  to  beat  and  he  had  gone,  where?  None  of  us 
know. 

While  Ned  was  struggling  in  his  last  agony,  the 
kidnappers  rushed  against  the  door  leading  into 
Lexie's  room  and  broke  it  from  its  hinges.  Seizing 
her  in  their  terrible  grasp,  they  hurried  into  the  hall. 


268  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

There  they  quickly  bandaged  her  mouth  and  eyes 
and  dragged  her  toward  the  door  While  she  strug- 
gled desperately  against  their  progress. 

In  her  frantic  endeavors  to  release  her^ll,  her 
temple  struck  a  sharp  angle  at  the  stairway  which 
leads  up  from  the  hall  to  the  half  story  above  it,  and 
she  dropped  almost  lifeless  to  the  floor.  They  gath- 
ered her  in  their  strong  arms  and  bore  her  to  the 
outer  door,  her  feet  touching  Ned's  fallen  body. 

Citizens  who  had  been  aroused  by  the  report  of  the 
pistol  and  the  cries  of  Aunt  Bina  came  running  to 
their  rescue  and  reached  the  entrance  before  the  kid- 
nappers could  drag  Lexie  from  the  door  to  which  she 
had  caught  as  she  revived  from  the  shock  received 
by  the  collision  with  the  sharp  angle  of  the  stairway. 

The  kidnappers  were  forced  to  release  her  and  fly 
through  the  darkness,  pursued  by  the  infuriated  citi- 
zens. Lexie  was  carried  to  her  room  more  dead  than 
alive  and  Aunt  Bina  was  picked  up  quite  unable  to 
speak. 

The  indignation  of  the  people  knew  no  bounds. 
Nearly  every  man  and  woman  in  Roan  sat  up  the  rest 
of  the  night,  and  as  many  as  could  watched  the  bed- 
side of  Lexie  until  morning.  She  was  prostrated  by 
the  terrible  fright  and  injuries  she  had  received.  She 
was  in  a  precarious  condition;  her  pulse  was  high; 
she  had  a  burning  fever  and  was  very  nervous. 
Since  "Colonel"  Patter's  warning,  a  vague  uncer- 
tainty of  impending  danger  had  hung  over  her  like 
the  sword  of  Damocles,  and,  when  assailed  by  the 
kidnappers,  her  nerves  gave  way   altogether.     The 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  269 

injury  on  the  temple  was  serious  and  her  condition 
dangerous.  An  ub graduated  doctor  was  called  in, 
but,  never  having  done  anything  but  act  on  a  pen- 
sion board  of  examiners,  did  nothing,  which  was  the 
best  thing  he  could  do. 

Fate  Wolf  walked  about  the  office,  looked  at  Ned 
lying  on  the  hall  floor  awaiting  the  Coroner's  inquest, 
picked  up  everything  he  saw  and  said  very  little  to 
any  one. 

Roan  was  excited  as  never  before.  A  searching 
party  started  on  the  trail  of  blood  which  coursed  in 
the  direction  of  Tippling  Fork.  They  met  Grabb6 
coming  to  his  office,  as  usual,  and  told  him  of  the 
tragedy.  He  heard  the  details  with  perfect  compos- 
ure, manifesting  so  little  interest  in  them  that  some 
of  the  Vigilants  remarked  upon  his  conduct. 

He  rode  on  to  Roan,  spent  most  of  the  day  in  his 
office  and  seemed  to  avoid  conversation  with  every 
one  whom  the  met. 

Next  morning  the  Vigilants  returned,  having  lost 
all  trace  of  the  fugitives  after  reaching  the  rugged 
ciifEs  of  Tippling  Fork.  They  began  talking  about 
Grabbers  indifference. 

"Colonel"  Patter  had  heard  the  news  and  came  to 
Roan  and  talked  loudly  against  the  perpetrators  of 
the  outrage.  He  kept  away  from  Grabb4's  office, 
which  was  unusual.  Nothing  else  but  the  crime  was 
talked  of.  Incessant  insinuation,  under  the  breath, 
went  on  against  Grabb4,  but  no  direct  evidence  could 
be  found  connecting  him  with  it.  Certain  habitues 
of  his  office  failed  to  appear  during  the  week  follow- 


270  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

ing  Ned's  murder,  and  a  visit  to  their  houses  found 
them  all  at  home  save  Eph  Soaks.  His  wife  made 
insufficient  explanations  of  his  absence  and  diligent 
search  and  inquiry  failed  to  discover  him. 

In  the  course  of  the  week  the  community  began 
to  settle  down  to  the  conviction  that  Grabb^  had 
planned  the  abduction  of  Lexie  which  resulted  in 
failure  and  the  murder  of  Ned.  Suspicion  pointed 
its  hundred  fingers  at  him.  Finally  he  was  arrested 
and  released  on  bail  to  stand  his  trial  the  next  Mon- 
day. 

Every  able-bodied  pensioner  in  that  section,  armed 
to  the  teeth,  came  to  Roan.  The  news  had  reached 
the  bluegrass  and  was  published  in  the  papers  far  and 
wide.  Tom  Mims  read  it  and  at  once  hurried  to 
Roan,  arriving  there  the  Sunday  before  the  day  set 
for  the  trial.  He  called  to  see  Lexie,  but  she  was  too 
ill  to  receive  him. 

The  morning  his  trial  was  set  Grabb^  made  a 
speech  from  the  door  in  defense  of  which  Ned  had 
lost  his  life,  and  pointed,  apparently  with  pity,  to 
Ned's  blood  that  stained  the  floor,  saying,  "Thank 
God,  none  of  it  is  on  these  loyal  hands,"  holding 
them  high  and  dramatically  above  his  head.  The 
pensioners  shouted  and  Lexie's  nerves  gave  way. 
This  condition  was  followed  by  great  depression  of 
mind  and  soon  she  became  delirious. 

Grabbe  had  tried  to  see  her  several  times  since 
Ned's  murder,  but  the  presence  of  neighbors  and  the 
excuse  that  she  was  too  sick  to  see  him  kept  him  out. 
He  made  bold,  however,  to  call  just  after  his  speech. 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  271 

He  was  told  she  was  out  of  her  head,  but  went  in  not- 
withstanding and  made  a  long  story  to  Aunt  Bina  of 
what  he  had  said  and  done,  giving  great  prominence 
to  his  sorrow  and  suffering  at  being  suspected  of  such 
a  crime. 

While  he  was  talking  Tom  Mims  called  again,  and 
this  time  he  was  admitted,  for  Grabbe's  presence  was 
a  menace  to  Lexie's  life.  Tom  Mims  gave  Grabbe  a 
.  warning  look  and  Grabb6  left  immediately.  Then 
Tom  spoke  to  Lexie,  but  her  mind  still  wandered  and 
she  did  not  know  him.  She  looked  up  into  his  face 
with  a  weak,  pained  look  that  touched  a  chord,  which 
had  hitherto  been  strung.  He  did  not  realize  the 
force  of  that  sad,  painful  look. 

Lexie  was  becoming  restless  and  Aunt  Bina  said, 
"You  must  rest  now;  Mr.  Mims,  you  can  call  again." 

Their  eyes  met  as  he  rose  to  go.  Her  brief,  bewil- 
dered gaze  was  tender  and  full  of  meaning,  such  as 
mixes  up  emotions,  leaving  the  heart  in  delightful 
uncertainty. 

Grabbe's  trial  was  postponed  for  another  week.  He 
was  using  the  law's  delay  to  head  off  public  senti- 
ment that  was  setting  in  against  him;  but  the  delay 
was  a  mistake,  for  adverse  public  opinion  gathered 
greater  force  and  Tom  Mims  was  enabled  to  commu- 
nicate with  Robert  Hope  and  have  him  present  to  aid 
in  the  prosecution.  The  latter  had  studied  law  after 
his  marriage  and  was  rising  into  prominence. 

During  the  summer  following  his  marriage  he  had 
visited  the  Mims,  and,  in  conversation  about  the  war 
and  their  several  experiences,  learned  of  Tom  that  he 


272  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

was  corresponding,  in  a  formal  way,  with  Lexie  Hal- 
len  and  that  he  was  almost  in  love  with  her. 

Robert  Hope  had,  therefore,  renewed  his  interest 
in  her  fate.  When  Tom's  letter  informing  him  of  her 
dangerous  condition,  and  urging  him  to  come  and  aid 
in  the  prosecution  of  Grabb^,  was  received,  he  started 
for  Roan,  arriving  there  the  morning  the  case  was 
set  for  trial.  His  interest  in  the  case  centered  around 
Lexie,  whom  he  gratefully  remembered  for  the  part 
she  and  the  murdered  boy,  Ned,  had  taken  in  his 
escape  and  flight  from  the  prison  hospital  at  Louis- 
ville. She  was  better  on  the  day  of  his  arrival,  and 
he  and  Tom  at  once  called  to  see  her.  The  room  was 
clean  and  tidy.  Large  red  roses  which  had  grown  on 
the  bushes  '  'Colonel"  Patter's  horse  had  nipped  hung 
from  the  lips  of  buckets  and  pitchers  which  were  set 
in  different  places  about  the  humble  apartment. 

Lexie's  brown  hair  lay  scattered  about  on  a  white 
pillow.  Her  head  was  propped  up  a  little,  and,  when 
Robert  Hope  entered,  her  sad  brown  eyes  lighted  up 
with  memory  and  gladness,  and  the  cleft  in  her  chin 
seemed  to  smile.  Every  expression  of  her  fine  face 
was  a  charming  recollection  and  a  token  of  the  bitter 
past  and  of  the  fleeting  joy  of  the  short  present.  Tom 
had  consideriately  informed  her  of  Robert  Hope's 
presence  in  order  to  avoid  any  excitement  when  he 
should  come  in. 

The  bed  was  drawn  between  the  door  and  window 
to  catch  the  breeze  from  the  Cumberland  Mountains 
that  constantly  swirled  down  on  the  Roan  Valley  in 
summer.  Suffering  had  wrought  lines  of  pain  on  the 
low,  broad  brow  which  so  becomes  a  brown-haired 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  273 

woman.  They  sat  down  on  either  side  of  the  bed, 
and  Robert  took  her  hand  in  his  and  began  talking 
gently  and  cheerfully.  Since  his  arrival  Tom  had 
not  missed  a  day — not  a  morning,  evening  or  night — 
in  his  visits  to  her,  and  had  quite  supplanted  Aunt 
Bina  and  the  quack  doctor,  who  now  only  gave  direc- 
tions for  Tom  to  carry  out,  if  he  liked  them.  Lexie 
said  Tom  was  a  fine  nurse,  and  so  he  was,  for  he  had 
learned  of  nursing  that  the  best  nurses  are  always  in 
love  with  the  patient. 

Aunt  Bina  had  grown  ten  years  older  in  the  last 
fortnight,  and  took  but  little  notice  of  what  was  going 
on  around  her.  She  sat  at  the  foot  of  the  bed,  where 
she  could  see  Lexie's  dear  face  and  hear  all  she  said. 

Kobert  Hope  said,  just  as  if  he  were  talking  for 
fun,  "Lexie,  I  believe  you  could  ride  to  Sam  Mims' 
now  if  the  escape  of  a  rebel  were  to  be  effected."' 

She  faintly  smiled  at  Hope's  effort  to  encourage 
her,  but  languidly  said,  "Those  days  are  gone  now, 
and  what  is  left  of  my  life  is  but  a  span.  The  cruel- 
ties of  war  and  the  inhumanity  of  poverty  no  longer 
deter  me  as  they  once  did,  yet  I  sometimes  think  it 
good  to  be  poor,  if  poverty  did  not  so  often  give  the 
wicked  the  opportunity  to  destroy  the  good  and- 
wrong  the  victory  over  right." 

This  nearly  broke  Tom's  heart,  and  his  emotion 
almost  overcame  him. 

Before  the  conversation  could  start  again,  the 
Court  House  bell  began  to  ring  for  the  trial  of  Penn 
Grabbe,  and,  with  kind,  encouraging  words,  they 
bade  her  be  quiet,  saying  they  would  return. 

18 


274  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

"Come  as  often  as  you  can,"  said  she,  "for  I  will 
be  glad  to  see  you,  and  you  can  tell  me  what  Tom  has 
been  telling  me  about. " 

"What  is  that?"  inquired  Robert  Hope. 

She  smiled  faintly  and  said, '  'You  know.  It  is  about 
your  marriage  with  Lema  Sayr,  whom  I  love  so  well." 

The  bell  continued  to  ring — it  seemed  to  toll — and 
they  left  for  the  trial. 

As  they  went  along,  Robert  Hope  said,  '  'We  must 
prepare  for  the  worst.  Poor  Lexie  is  not  long  for 
this  world.  I  must  write  to  Mrs.  Hope  to  come  at 
once." 

They  entered  the  court-room,  where  "the  grand 
human  thing  called  law  and  the  great  divine  thing 
called  justice  were  visible." 

The  J  ustices  of  the  Peace — one  of  whom  could  not 
read  reading  and  one  of  whom  could  not  write  writ- 
ing, but  both  of  whom  respected  the  majesty  of  the 
law,  and  when  sworn  had  a  superstitious  awe  for  jus- 
tice— occupied  the  Judge's  seat. 

Grabbe  sat  to  the  left,  just  behind  his  able  counsel 
imported  from  the  beautiful  bluegrass  region  to  de- 
fend him. 

The  public  prosecutor  occupied  the  right,  with  no 
client  by  his  side,  save  the  invisible  State.  Robert 
Hope  entered  and  took  his  seat  near  the  public  prose- 
cutor.    The  senior  Justice  called  the  case: 

"The  Commoa wealth  of  Kentucky 

against 

Penn  Grabb6. 

He  is  charged  with  willful  murder," 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  275 

Grabb6  and  his  lawyers  put  their  heads  together. 
The  public  prosecutor  and  Robert  Hope  passed  a 
single  word  and  announced  "the  State  is  ready." 

"May  it  please  the  Court,  the  defendant  is  also 
ready,"  said  Kentucky's  famous  criminal  lawyer — 
Tech  Flawhaven. 

The  witnesses  on  both  sides  were  marshaled, 
sworn  and  separated,  each  side  calling  Fate  Wolf  and 
"Colonel"  Patter. 

The  warrant  was  read  and  Penn  Grabbe  rose  him- 
self and  pleaded  in  a  calm,  firm  voice,  "Not  guilty." 

By  agreement,  the  statements  made  by  LexieHallen 
before  the  Coroner's  jury  were  detailed  by  the  fore- 
man of  that  informal,  antiquated  and  somewhat  use- 
less body.  In  this  Grabb6  had  great  advantage,  for 
she  had  made  no  allusion  to  his  previous  course  with 
her. 

After  several  citizens  who  frightened  off  the  kid- 
nappers the  night  Ned  was  murdered  had  testified,  one 
of  the  Vigilants  that  had  gone  in  pursuit  next  day 
was  introduced.  He  was  examined  in  chief  by  Rob- 
ert Hope,  as  follows: 

"What  is  your  name?     Linton  Lynch. 

Were  you  with  the  Vigilants  the  next  day  after  the 
murder  of  Ned  Hallen?     I  was. 

Did  you  see  Penn  Grabb^?     I  did. 

Where?  On  the  dividing  ridge  between  this  and 
Tippling  Pork. 

Was  any  conversation  had  with  him?     Yes. 

What  was  it?  Our  leader  told  him  of  Ned's  mur- 
der and  what  he  knew  about  it. 


.  276  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

What  did  Grabb6  say?  Nothing  of  importance.  He 
expressed  some  surprise. 

How  did  he  look  and  act? 

To  this  question  counsel  for  the  defense  objected 
because  the  question  called  for  the  opinion  of  the  wit- 
ness.    The  Justices  overruled  the  point. 

The  witness  answered:  His  eyes  were  restless,  his 
color  changed  a  little,  thought  more  than  he  spoke. 
He  did  not  take  much  interest,  and  rode  off. 

Tech  Flawhaven  said  he  did  not  wish  to  cross- 
examine  this  witness. 

Then  "Colonel"  Patter  was  called  in  and  examined. 

How  long  have  you  known  the  accused?  Since  the 
year  A.  D.  1855,  when  the  Know  Nothings  were  so 
bad. 

Do  you  know  of  any  deception  he  practiced  on 
Lexie  Hallen  and  her  aunts  just  before  the  war 
closed?  I  have  heard  of  that  deception,  but  person- 
ally know  nothing  of  it. 

How  did  you  hear  of  it?  I  jBrst  heard  Fate  Wolf 
tell  of  the  outlay  of  two  thousand  dollars  to  save 
Lexie  Hallen  from  the  Dry  Tortugas,  but  after  the 
war  I  met  Lieutenant  Woorley,  who  had  been  on 
General  Burr's  staff,  and  he  said  it  did  not  cost  Penn 
Grabb6  a  cent,  and  Miss  Hallen  was  not  ordered  out 
of  the  State,  but  unconditionally  released. 

Counsel  for  the  accused  objected  to  the  answer  be- 
cause it  detailed  hearsay.  The  public  prosecutor 
said,  '  *We  will  make  the  evidence  competent. " 

Robert  Hope  continued: 

Did  you  communicate  those  facts  to  Penn  Grabbe? 
I  did. 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  .         277 

What  did  he  say?     Nothing.     He  laughed. 

Did  you  give  Lexie  Hallen  any  warning  at  any 
time?     I  did. 

When?     Last  spring. 

What  was  that  warning?  I  gave  no  names,  but  I 
told  her  to  keep  her  doors  barred. 

Why  did  you  tell  her  to  do  that?  Because  I  in- 
ferred — 

Here  an  objection  was  interposed  and  sustained. 

Cross-examined  by  Tech  Flawhaven. 

Are  you  the  same  "Colonel"  Patter  who  deserted 
from  the  rebel  army?  I  am  not.  I  am  the  same  man 
who  escaped  from  their  infuriated  envy.  I  never 
joined  their  army. 

Did  Mr.  Grabb6  lake  you  in  and  care  for  you  on 
your  return  home?  Well,  yes,  he  took  me  in  and 
used  me.     I  never  thought  he  cared  for  me  much. 

For  what  did  he  use  you?  I  never  knew  exactly; 
but  in  a  subordinate  position  connected  in  a  remote 
way  with  his  recruiting  and  trading. 

Has  he  loaned  you  money?  He  has,  but  I  paid  it 
back. 

Have  you  given  him  affidavits  proving  his  accounts 
to  be  just  against  the  Government?  I  have,  m  cer- 
tain cases. 

Have  you  any  ill  feeling  toward  the  accused?  I 
most  certainly  have,  sir. 

On  what  is  it  based?  His  mistreatment  of  Lexie 
Hallen. 

Do  you  know,  of  your  own  knowledge,  he  mistreat- 
ed her?     I  do  not,  but  I  have  heard  — 


278  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

"I  object  to  what  you  have  heard,"  said  Flaw- 
haven,  "I  only  want  what  you  do  know." 

The  cross-examination  closed.  The  witness  was 
directed  to  retire. 

Fate  Wolf  was  then  called.  The  audience  exhib- 
ited great  interest  as  he  took  the  stand  and  all  eyes 
were  riveted  upon  his  face.  He  had  refused  to  con- 
fer with  the  State's  lawyers  and  great  doubt  existed 
as  to  how  he  would  testify. 

Direct  examination  by  Robert  Hope. 

How  long  have  you  known  the  accused?  Ever 
sense  he  got  to  be  high  shuruff  en  went  to  the  Legis- 
latur. 

When  was  that?    In  '57  en  '59. 

How  well  have  you  known  him  since?  Mitynigh 
es  well  ez  a  nigger  use  to  know  his  master. 

Have  you  had  any  business  with  him?  I  hev. 
Lots. 

What  sort?  Well,  fust  and  fomust  we  traded  in 
hogs,  mules,  cattle,  rekroots  en  subter-shoots.  Arter 
the  war  we  went  into  the  pension  trade  en  we  air  still 
a  officerin  together  ontell  this  trouble  cum  up. 

Do  you  know  Lexie  Hallen?     Yes  sir-ee,  I  do. 

Did  you  know  Ned  Hallen,  who  was  killed?  I  wus 
a  quainted  with  him. 

Where  were  you  the  night  of  his  murder?  I  wus 
in  my  cabin  in  the  Rocky  Gorge. 

When  did  you  hear  of  his  death?  The  follerin 
evenin'.  Eph  Soaks  cum  to  my  cabin  wi'  his  sholder 
split  open  en  sed  that  nigger  Ned  hed  got  killed.  I 
axed  him  howsumever  it  wur  dun  en  he  sed  he  didn't 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  279 

know  onless  Penn  Grabb4  hed  shot  him  to  keep 
him  from  killin'  two  men  en  — 

Tech  Flawhaven  shouted  his  objections  and  the 
hearsay  was  ruled  out,  but  Grabb^'s  face  turned 
deathly  pale.  Everybody  was  watching  him  and  the 
Vigilants,  who  were  attending  the  trial  in  force  al- 
most as  large  as  the  pensioners,  showed  signs  of  ex- 
citement. Order  was  restored  and  the  evidence  pro- 
ceeded. 

Tech  Flawhaven: 

Why  didn't  you  tell  these  things  as  soon  as  you 
came  to  Roan  after  the  killiri?  Howsumever  do  ye 
know  but  what  I  did? 

Flawhaven  told  Hope  to  finish  with  the  witness 
and  he  would  cross-examine  him  then. 

Robert  Hope: 

If  you  know,  state  the  facts  about  the  accused 
bringing  Lexie  Hallen  to  your  house  the  year  the  war 
closed?  Du  ye  want  me  to  tell  it  all  in  my  own  way? 
Yes. 

Well,  he  fotch  her  thar  jist  about  two  weeks  afore 
Gineril  Lee  give  up,  en  told  me  that  Gineril  Sher- 
man had  ordered  wimmin  a  rested  en  Gineril  Burr 
had  exhyled  Lexie.  Scatlett  tuck  her  in  en  fell  in 
love  with  her  en  I  got  sot  that  a  way  myself.  She's 
the  nicest  gyrl  ever  ye  seed  en  kin  beat  a  angel 
a  playin'  on  his  own  harp.  Penn  Grabb6  told  me 
thet  he  paid  two  thousand  to  git  her  off  en  I  believed 
liim,  yit  he  acted  a  leatle  quare  en  I  sed,  Scatlett  less 
watch  him,  en  we  did  en  wouldn't  let  him  bother  her 
nuther.     Scatlett  wanted  to  sick  the  dogs  on  him, 


280  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

yit  I  got  her  not  to  do  it.  Arter  Ned  cum  en  Lee 
give  up  I  went  off  to  Grabb^'s  en  Lexie  left  fur  home 
in  the  night.  I  hated  that  fur  I  had  bean  at  hur 
house  in  Luisvil  en  they  hed  entreated  me  turrible 
nice.  I've  hearn  sense  thet  he  didn't  pay  no  two 
thousand. 

"Never  mind  what  you  heard,"  said  Flawhaven. 

Hope: 

How  came  Lexie  Hallen  to  come  to  Roan?  I  writ 
her  a  letter  is  what  fotch  her. 

What  did  you  write  about?  The  Hallen  house  what 
belonged  to  her. 

After  she  arrived,  what  was  done  about  the  Hallen 
house?  Penn  Grabbe  give  it  up,  yit  he  charged  fur 
that  two  thousand  he  didn't  pay  en  got  half  the  house 
fur  it. 

How  did  the  accused  behave  toward  Lexie  Hallen 
after  she  and  her  aunt  moved  into  the  house?  He 
crossed  the  hall  most  ever'  day  en  tried  to  cort  Lexie, 
yit  she  wouldn't  hev  nuthin'  to  do  with  him  'cept 
listen  en  look  trubbled. 

Did  he  ever  speak  to  you  about  hiding  her  at  your 
house?  One  day,  the  day  arter  it  wur  knowed  he 
wur  beat  fur  Congruss,  he  axed  me  to  keep  her  in 
the  Rocky  Gorge,  nur  to  tell  her  aunt,  fur  that  would 
spile  the  fun  uv  stealin'  uv  her  off  in  the  night. 

Where  did  this  occur?-    In  our  pension  offis. 

Did  you  come  to  the  office  the  morning  after  Ned 
was  killed?     I  did. 

What  did  you  find?  I  found  Ned  dead,  thet  little 
gyrl  purty  nigh  dead,  en  a  empty  catridge  wur  out- 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  281 

side  the  winder  at  the  front  eend  uv  the  hall  en  a 
hole  shot  through  the  winder  what  would  a  hit  Ned 
ez  he  swang  the  axe  back  to  kill  two  men,  ez  Eph 
Soaks  told  me  he  did,  fur  which  he  tho't  Penn  Grabb4 
shot  him. 

Tech  Flawhaven  complained  to  the  Court  because 
the  witness  stated  hearsay  before  he  could  object. 
This  point  was  not  passed  on. 

Have  you  that  cartridge?     I  he  v. 

Will  you  produce  it?    Yes,  sir. 

Here  Fate  Wolf  produced  the  shell  of  an  exploded 
pistol  cartridge.  Great  curiosity  to  see  it  was  shown 
all  over  the  crowded  house. 

By  this  time  the  excitement  in  the  audience  was 
intense.  Grabb6  was  pale  and  restless,  the  Justices 
uneasy;  and  signs  of  release  on  the  part  of  the  pen- 
sioners were  manifest.  The  Justices  consulted  a  mo- 
ment and  ordered  the  high  Sheriff  to  summon  four 
deputies  and  take  the  accused  into  custody  pending 
the  remainder  of  the  trial. 

This  being  done,  Robert  Hope  proceeded  with  the 
examination. 

'Squire  Wolf,  did  you  ever  fit  that  cartridge  shell 
in  any  pistol? 

Penn  Grabb6  looked  beseechingly  at  Pate  Wolf  and 
shook  his  head  smilingly  as  he  sat  pale  and  nervous 
under  the  pitiless  honesty  of  the  witness. 

It  would  be  a  onjestice  to  a  little  gyrl  ef  I  wus  to 
per-varry-kate  en  I  hev  to  swear,  fur  I'm  on  oath  in 
a  cort  uv  jestice,  thet  I  did  fit  it  in  a  pistol. 

Who's  pistol  was  it?     My  ole  fren's. 


282  .  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

Whom  do  you  mean,  name  the  man?  It  wur  Penn 
Grabbe's — and  Fate  Wolf  shed  tears,  sincere,  honest, 
repentant — and  added,  I  agreed  fur  to  keep  the  poor 
little  gyrl  ag'in  ef  she  wur  willin'  to  be  stole,  ez 
Grabb6  told  me  she  wur,  en  hit  wur  her  aunt  what 
wus  objectin'. 

The  audience  was  amazed,  the  Vigilants  were  boil- 
ing with  wrath,  the  pensioners  were  surprised  at  the 
disclosures  and  the  prisoner  seemed  about  to  be  en- 
veloped in  a  tempest  of  destruction. 

Flawhaven  saw  that  it  were  worse  than  madness  to 
try  to  stem  the  tide  and  at  once  arose  and  waived 
further  examination,  saying,  '  'My  client  will  trust  to 
a  future  day  w^hen  passion  subsides  and  justice  may 
have  a  chance  to  prevail." 

The  prisoner  was  committed  to  jail  without  bail. 
The  Sheriff  and  guards,  followed  by  the  crowd,  led 
him  out  of  the  court  room  and  across  the  open  court 
yard  to  the  jail  steps,  which  ascended  on  the  outside 
of  the  building  to  the  main  entrance  ten  feet  above  the 
ground.  At  the  door  a  square  platform,  four  by  six 
feet,  received  the  top  of  the  ladder-like  steps.  The 
sheriff,  deputies  and  prisoner  stopped  on  the  crowd- 
ed platform  while  the  door  was  unlocking  in  full 
view  of  the  people. 

Penn  Grabbe  asked  the  privilege  of  saying  a  word 
in  his  own  behalf,  which  was  granted.  By  the  time 
he  had  said,  "My  fellow  citizens,  I  can  explain  away 
the  evidence  brought  against  me,"  his  pension  clients 
had  occupied  all  the  space  about  the  foot  of  the  steps 
and  beneath  the  platform. 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  283 

In  an  instant  he  saw  his  opportunity  and  sprang 
from  the  platform  into  their  midst,  and  fled  in  tlie 
confusion  to  the  nearest  horse  hitched  to  the  Court 
House  fence,  and  before  the  Sheriff  and  deputies  re- 
covered from  their  surprise  and  pushed  their  way 
through  the  crowd  of  pensioners,  who  were  obstruct- 
ing their  movements,  Penn  Grabb6  was  gone.  He 
soon  reached  the  woods  of  Roan  and  easily  evaded 
pursuit. 

The  Sheriff,  deputies  and  angered  Vigilants  furi- 
ously followed  him,  but  to  no  purpose.  They  soon 
returned,  and  a  battle  between  them  and  the  pension- 
ers, who  could  not  conceal  their  delight  at  Grabbers 
escape,  was  narrowly  averted. 

Robert  Hope  and  Tom  Mims  went  immediately  to 
see  Lexie  to  quiet  her  in  the  event  she  should  hear  of 
the  great  excitement  and  imminent  danger  of  blood- 
shed. 

That  night  the  pensioners  howled  about  the  streets, 
breathing  out  threatenings  and  slaughter  against 
"Colonel"  Patter,  but  were  quite  careful  to  say 
nothing  inimical  to  Pate  Wolf,  for  he  knew  too  much 
about  "affidavys"  and  facts  on  which  their  peace, 
plenty  and  pensions  rested.  He  could  pull  down  the 
whole  fabric,  though  blind  and  bound  to  the  pillars 
of  the  system  which  Grabbe  had  erected;  and  he  could 
do  it,  living  or  dead,  for  he  had  the  example  of  poor 
Ned,  whose  death  had  brought  to  a  close  a  patriot's 
strategy. 


XXXII. 

IN  the  early  dawn  Roan  was  being  deserted.     The 
pensioners  were  riding  away  from  its  outskirts; 
the  Vigilants  were  retiring  to  their  homes. 

The  sun  was  rising  over  the  highest  eastern  range 
of  the  Cumberlands,  its  rays  were  scattering  the  mists 
of  the  valley  while  the  deep  dark  rents  which  opened 
the  huge  sides  of  these  mountains  were  being  pene- 
trated, even  to  their  wildest  recesses,  by  the  light. 
Ten  thousand  trees  arching  their  trunks  stood  like 
myriad  columns  under  a  vast  green  canopy.  Lock 
Ege's  bald  head  glinted  beneath  the  gilding  rays 
when  Lexie  opened  her  languid  eyes  from  a  long 
night's  sleep,  during  which  her  poor  sickness-broken 
body  had  rested  as  though  she  were  dead. 

Tom  Mims,  who  had  fanned  her  while  she  slept 
during  the  earlier  part  of  the  night,  stood  by  the  bed- 
side with  dejected  countenance,  quivering  lip  and 
open  hands  ready  for  the  wringing  when  her  soft 
gaze  sought  his  face  and  her  low,  tranquil  voice  said, 
"Good  morning,  Tom." 

Agony  unspeakable  filled  his  plaintive  response, 
and  his  hands  rose  and  fell  in  love  and  grief. 

The  roses  in  the  garden  were  exchanging  dews  for 
sunbeams,  absorbing  the  blue  and  yellow  rays  while 
blushing  blood  red  under  the  sun's  early  glances. 

?.84 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  285 

She  said,  '  'Open  wide  the  door  and  let  me  look  at 
the  leaves  and  flowers." 

Aunt  Bina  gently  raised  the  latch  and  the  sweet 
summer  air  left  the  red  roses  to  fan  the  smooth  fore- 
head and  the  composed  body  which  lay  so  calm  and 
still. 

Her  hands  were  lying  on  the  pink  coverlet,  open  as 
if  ready  to  take  hold  of  the  Saviour  should  he  call. 
They  were  charming  hands,  for  they  could  catch  a 
sympathy  as  a  bruised  heart  or  the  eyes  of  sorrow. 
Her  lips  were  shut  lightly,  and  the  gentle  upper 
curves  of  the  corners  seemed  to  smile,  nay,  a  smile 
did  hover  there  as  she  repeated  the  lines : 

"If  I  may  trust  the  flattery  of  sleep, 
My  dreams  presage  some  joyful  news  at  hand." 

Robert  Hope  heard  her  as  he  entered,  and  said,  '  'I 
bring  you  the  joyful  news;   Lema  is  here." 

A  moment  more  and  Lema  lifted  the  chiselled  hands 
about  her  neck  and  gently  kissed  Lexie's  forehead, 
while  saying  those  words  which  she  alone  could  say 
to  the  suffering. 

"You  must  get  well;  I  can  nurse  you  back  to  health 
and  strength." 

Robert  and  Tom  were  looking  on  with  emotion. 
Robert  unseen  by  Lexie  slowly  and  sadly  shook  his 
head.  Tom  looked  alarmed,  but  either  could  not  or 
feared  to  move  a  muscle. 

A  few  words  were  spoken  to  Aunt  Bina  and  Lema 
sent  Tom  to  the  tavern  for  her  satchel  in  which  she 
had  brought  the   silver  cup  and  flask  of  war-time 


286  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

service  and  many  medicines.  It  had  almost  every- 
thing in  it  that  might  do  Lexie  good. 

While  Tom  was  gone  she  said,  "I  am  glad  you  are 
so  tranquil,  dear,  for  it  will  aid  you  to  recover 
speedily." 

"Ah,"  said  Robert  in  a  whisper  to  Lema  as  she 
mixed  the  medicines,  "the  Clerk  of  Heaven  has 
issued  the  summons  and  the  return  will  be  brief." 

Lexie  drank  a  little  of  the  wine  poured  from  the 
silver  flask  and  her  eyes  seemed  filled  with  a  brighter 
light.  She  gazed  about  the  room  and  into  the  gar- 
den with  a  wistful,  eager  look,  "This  morning  re- 
minds me  of  my  early  life  at  the  old  home.  I  can  see 
the  big  spring  into  which  poor  Ned  fell,  and  feel  the 
flutter  of  fear  as  I  held  him  up  with  my  little  hands 
until  father  answered  our  screams  and  lifted  him  out 
half  strangled.  How  I  loved  to  'run  about  the  braes 
and  pull  the  gowan  fine,'  and  how  I  loved  for  my 
cheerful  father  to  swing  me,  exultant,  high  into  the 
air  in  the  old  swing  hanging  from  the  spreading  elm 
that  stood  by  the  garden  gate.  I  remember  how  he 
would  lay  aside  his  books  and  pen  and  sometimes 
spend  the  whole  afternoon  with  Ned  and  me  roaming 
about  the  great  bluegrass  fields  and  wide  wood  pas- 
tures, picking  flowers  and  watching  the  birds  and 
squirrels,  while  his  cattle  grazed  on  the  distant  hills. 
It  is  sweet  to  recall  those  early  days,  and  my  memory 
has  hoarded  them,  and  now  they  bear  me  golden  in- 
terest." 

"Well,  well,"  said  Lema,  "the  beginning  of  our 
lives   often  casts   sunbeams  upon  the  far-off  close, 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  287 

making  the  approach  to  heaven  all  hope  and  relief." 

"Yes,  a  blessed  relief  to  those  that  weary-laden 
mourn,"  interposed  Lexie. 

"Dear,  dear,  but  you  will  get  well,  my  sweet  one," 
said  Lema,  '  'be  quiet  now  and  I  will  watch  you  to 
sleep." 

'  'I  am  quiet,  but  I  can  not  sleep,  for  I  want  to  talk 
to  you  to-day.  It  is  going  to  be  my  last  on  earth  and 
I  want  it  all  Avith  you. " 

Her  tones  were  so  tranquil  and  sweet  that  Lema's 
eyes  filled  with  tears.  Looking  in  fear  and  pity  at 
Lexie's  snowy  hands  lying  still,  but  hopefully  open, 
she  sighed,  deeply  thinking  how  beautiful  they  were 
— those  curves  and  delicate  lines,  the  hidden  charms 
and  graces  that  nestled  in  the  hollows  of  those  sweet 
hands,  their  secrets  of  charity  and  generous  deeds 
treasured  up  and  read  by  Him  alone  who  never  turned 
away  a  woman. 

The  hand  is  a  mystery.  It  is  divine.  Its  perfect 
fitness  for  the  delicate  uses  of  life  is  as  pervasive  as 
the  demands  of  labor.  Deft,  subtle,  strong  and  suited 
to  the  doing  of  all  things,  it  has  formed  each  part  of 
every  discovery  and  invention,  and  by  its  tracery  pre- 
served the  thought  of  every  brain.  It  is  the  medium, 
more  delicate  than  the  eye,  of  the  passions.  Its 
pathos  goes  straight  to  the  heart.  It  speaks  through 
the  touch  and  the  veins  flow  faster.  Who  has  not  felt 
the  lover's  glowing  touch  or  the  warm  grasp  of  a 
friend?  It  is  the  instrument  of  God  to  fashion  na- 
ture to  man's  use. 

"I  know  what  you  are  thinking,"  said  Lexie,  "I felt 


288  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

my  fingers  on  the  strings  of  my  old  violin  as  plainly 
as  if  it  were  now  in  my  hands.  I  heard  its  music  so 
soft  and  sweet,  my  arm  could  feel  the  thrill  of  the 
bow  across  the  strings.  Now  put  your  hand  in  mine 
and  I  will  know  what  your  heart  feels." 

Lema's  heart  rose  in  her  bosom  and  great  love 
filled  her  soul  as  she  moved  away  in  order  to  turn 
the  current  of  sympathy  which  was  running  too 
high  for  Lexie's  strength.  Imperceptibly  that 
strength  was  going.  She  waited  until  Lema  again 
sat  down  beside  her  and  then  said  calmly,  '  'Now,  tell 
me  everything  about  you  and  Robert  Hope." 

Lema  began  the  story,  telling  her  all  that  happened 
to  either  of  them  from  Shiloh  to  their  wedding  day. 
When  she  told  Lexie  that  she  had  recognized  Robert 
in  that  memorable  duel,  Lexie  said,  "I  had  a  vague 
feeling  then  that  you  knew  him.  Go  on  now  and  tell 
me  the  rest." 

"I  will  fijiish  it  after  a  while,"  said  Lema,  "I  must 
not  tell  you  too  much  at  once,  it  will  tire  you. " 

At  intervals  during  the  day  Lema  told  her  the  rest 
of  her  story,  and  late  in  the  afternoon  as  the  sun  was 
sending  his  last  rays  into  the  little  garden  Lexie  be- 
gan where  she  had  left  off  in  the  morning  to  tell  the 
story  of  her  trouble  and  her  poverty  and  the  trials  of 
her  short  life.  Lema  Sayr,  Robert  Hope  and  Tom 
Mims,  who  had  been  joined  by  Fate  Wolf,  good  old 
Scatlett  and  "Colonel"  Patter,  were  the  listeners. 
With  tenderness  and  pain  they  listened  quietly. 
Every  feeling  of  their  hearts  was  enlisted  and  burnt 
Lexie's  words  upon  their  minds  forever.     She  talked 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  289 

on  until  the  shadows  began  to  fill  the  valley  and,  as 
day  merged  into  night,  dropped  into  soft  slumber. 
Lema  told  Tom  to  go  to  the  tavern  and  get  a  good 
night's  rest,  that  the  others  in  turn  would  sit  up  with 
Lexie. 

He  went  to  the  tavern  and  was  given  the  same 
room  in  which  "Colonel"  Patter  clipped  the  big  name 
from  the  Gazette  and  pasted  it  on  the  Enquirer  to  re- 
move Fate  Wolf's  objections  to  volunteering  for  the 
South. 

He  layed  him  down,  and  from  exhaustion  soon 
fell  into  a  light  sleep.  There  was  a  low  barometer 
prevailing  and  toward  midnight  he  slept  soundly 
under  the  sweet  refrain  the  rain  played  upon  the 
shingles,  and  as  the  thunder  began  to  roll  over  the 
valley  his  dream  grew  wonderfully  beautiful. 

He  dreamed  that  the  end  of  the  world  had  been 
predicted  for  a  day  near  at  hand,  but  that  he  refused 
to  believe  it,  saying  "it  was  superstition."  He  wa- 
vered a  little,  however,  as  even  the  strongest  will. 
The  sun  hung  high  in  the  heavens  when  the  day  be- 
gan to  darken.  First  the  sun  grew  dim.  The  air 
was  still.  Sounds  grew  ominous  and  it  grew  darker. 
The  people  gathered  together.  In  the  afternoon  the 
sun  began  to  throw  off  great  pieces  of  light,  flashing 
with  intolerable  radiance.  The  air  grew  denser  and 
darker  and  awful  in  its  stillness.  The  sides  of  the 
mountains  were  laid  bare  of  tree  and  rock  by  the 
lightning.  The  whole  valley  was  darkness  and  dawn, 
shadow  and  light,  flashes  and  sheets  of  flame.  The 
heavens  were  thickly  sown  with  stars  that  glinted 


290  A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY. 

through  the  contending  light  and  darkness.  A  shape- 
less shadow  fell  from  the  light  of  the  stars  and 
seemed  to  brood  over  the  warring  elements.  Pois- 
ing on  slowly  evolving  wings,  it  began  to  take  form 
until  it  came  to  view,  a  perfect  woman  with  sky-blue 
eyes  gently  glancing  mercy  in  every  direction  and  at 
every  one.  Tom's  dream  had  awed  him  into  fear, 
but  when  the  angel  took  his  hand  his  fear  left  him. 
He  felt  guilty  but  not  afraid,  and  said  to  the  angel, 
"Have  I  been  wicked  and  shall  I  be  saved?"  The 
angel  laughed  and  said,  "You  shall  be  saved  by  your 
faults."  The  angel  left  him  and  hovered  over  Lexie 
and  gazed  into  the  lusterless  eyes  and  calm  white 
face. 

He  awoke  to  hear  the  rain  pouring  on  the  roof  and 
some  one  knocking,  knocking,  knocking.  He  opened 
the  door  and  Fate  Wolf,  wet  and  pale,  said,  "They 
wants  ye  to  cum." 

He  hastily  dressed  and  questionless  trudged 
through  the  storm  with  a  great  weight  at  his  heart. 
When  they  reached  the  house  they  went  softly  in. 
Tom  approached  the  bedside. 

Lexie's  death  was  the  result  of  depression  of  heart 
more  than  from  the  injury  she  received  at  the  hands 
of  Penn  Grabb^'s  minions.  From  early  girlhood  sor- 
row had  filled  her  breast.  Her  heart  seldom  beat  in 
-cheerfulness,  though  her  spirit  made  many  bright 
^struggles  to  be  free.  But  alas!  it,  too,  finally  shrank 
from  the  bitter  touch  of  the  world,  and  when  the 
shock  of  alarm  and  the  injury  upon  her  dear. temple 
ivere  superadded  to  her  burdened  spirit,  she  fell  be- 


A  PATRIOT'S  STRATEGY.  291 

neath  the  combined  weight  and  her  gentle  soul  left 
its  mortal  tenement  and  passed  beyond  the  morn. 

They  buried  her  in  the  garden  under  the  rose 
bushes  to  await  the  call  of  Him  who  said  blessed  are 
they  that  mourn,  for  they  shall  be  comforted.  Was 
the  cause  of  her  life  lost  like  the  cause  of  her  dear 
South?  Did  she  too  go  down  in  gloom  to  rise  in 
glory? 

Good  reader,  you  may  now  take  your  way  and  I 
shall  take  mine.  May  you  love  much,  work  hard, 
live  cheerfully  and  die  in  peace. 


■M'  A 


RARE  BOOK 
COLLECTION 


THE  LIBRARY  OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF 

NORTH  CAROLINA 

AT 

CHAPEL  HILL 

Wilmer 
533 


